Skiis or Skis: Which Spelling Is Correct?

Skiis or skis? If you’re talking about more than one ski, the correct spelling is skis. Skiis is a misspelling.

The plural is simple: ski → skis. You do not need to add another i. This spelling is standard in both American and British English, and major dictionaries such as Cambridge and Oxford list skis as the plural of ski.

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Quick Answer

Skis is correct.
Skiis is incorrect.

For example:

• one ski → correct
• two skis → correct
• a pair of skis → correct
• two skiis → incorrect

So, if you are writing about snow equipment, remember:

ski + s = skis

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Why Is “Skis” Correct?

The word ski is a countable noun, so its regular plural is formed by adding -s. As a result, the spelling changes from ski to skis, not skiis.

Oxford and Cambridge both list skis as the standard plural of ski. Cambridge defines a ski as one of the long, narrow pieces used for moving over snow, while Oxford likewise gives skis as its plural form.

Therefore:

ski → skis ✅
ski → skiis ❌

The final i stays exactly where it is. Only the plural s is added.

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What Does “Skis” Mean?

Skis is the plural of ski, meaning more than one piece of equipment used for skiing on snow.

For instance:

I put my skis in the car.

Her skis are ready for the trip.

We rented skis before the lesson.

Because skiing normally involves two skis, the expression a pair of skis is especially common. In everyday writing, however, you can simply use skis whenever you mean more than one ski.

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Ski, Skis, Skiing, or Skied?

These forms are related, but each has a different grammatical role.

Word	Function	Example
ski	Singular noun / base verb	I bought a ski.
skis	Plural noun / third-person verb	Her skis are new.
skiing	-ing form / activity	Skiing is exciting.
skied	Past tense / past participle	We skied yesterday.

Cambridge and Collins both list skis, skiing, and skied among the standard forms of ski. Consequently, seeing different spellings in related forms does not mean that the plural should be skiis.

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Is “Skis” Also a Verb?

Yes. Skis can also be the third-person singular present form of the verb ski.

Consider these two sentences:

She skis every winter.

Here, skis is a verb.

Her skis are beside the door.

In this sentence, skis is a plural noun.

Although the spelling is identical, the grammatical role changes according to the sentence. Collins specifically lists skis as both the plural noun form and the third-person singular present form of ski.

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Why Do People Write “Skiis”?

The spelling skiis is an understandable mistake because ski already ends in i. Someone may naturally expect another i before the plural ending.

However, standard English does not form the plural that way. Instead, you simply attach -s to the existing word.

SKI + S = SKIS ✅

SKI + IS = SKIIS ❌

In other words, the extra i has no grammatical purpose. Once you remember the basic pattern, this spelling becomes easy to avoid.

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Skis vs Skies: What’s the Difference?

These two words look similar, but they have completely different meanings.

Skis

Skis is the plural of ski.

We packed our skis before leaving.

Skies

Skies is the plural of sky.

The evening skies looked beautiful over the mountains.

The easiest way to remember the difference is:

ski → skis
sky → skies

Therefore, when you mean snow equipment, skis is the word you need.

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Skis vs. Ski’s vs. Skis’

Apostrophes create another common spelling confusion. However, each form has a clear grammatical purpose.

Skis = plural

Use skis when you mean more than one ski.

The skis are beside the door.

Ski’s = singular possessive

Use ski’s when something belongs to one ski.

The ski’s edge was damaged.

Skis’ = plural possessive

Use skis’ when something belongs to multiple skis.

The skis’ bindings were adjusted.

Thus, the forms can be remembered this way:

• ski = one
• skis = more than one
• ski’s = belonging to one
• skis’ = belonging to more than one

Most importantly, an apostrophe is not needed to make ski plural.

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Is “Skis” the Same in American and British English?

Yes. There is no standard US-versus-UK spelling difference for this word.

Form	American English	British English
Singular	ski	ski
Plural	skis	skis
-ing form	skiing	skiing
Past tense	skied	skied

So, whether your audience is in the United States or the United Kingdom, skis is the standard plural spelling.

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Ski as a Modifier

There is another useful distinction when writing about skiing. The word ski often appears before another noun to describe its type or purpose.

Common examples include:

• ski boots
• ski resort
• ski instructor
• ski slope
• ski equipment
• ski goggles

For example:

We bought new ski boots before the trip.

Here, ski is modifying boots, so it does not become skis simply because boots is plural.

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Examples of “Skis” in Real Sentences

Here are some natural examples showing how the word works in everyday English:

• I left my skis at the hotel.
• We rented skis for the weekend.
• Her skis are designed for beginners.
• The instructor checked both skis before the lesson.
• He carried his skis to the lift.
• These skis are suitable for deep snow.
• She skis every weekend during winter.

Notice the final example. Unlike the others, skis is being used as a verb because it describes what she does.

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Common Mistakes With “Ski”

Keeping these forms separate will prevent most mistakes:

Form	Correct?	Meaning
ski	✅	One ski / base verb
skis	✅	Plural noun / third-person verb
skiing	✅	Activity / -ing form
skied	✅	Past tense / past participle
skiis	❌	Misspelling
skies	✅	Plural of sky
ski’s	✅	Singular possessive
skis’	✅	Plural possessive

The key distinction remains straightforward: skis is the correct plural, while skiis is not.

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FAQs

Is “skiis” a correct spelling?

No. Skiis is a misspelling. The standard plural of ski is skis.

What is the plural of “ski”?

The plural is skis.

One ski → two skis.

Why isn’t it spelled “skiis”?

The plural is formed by adding -s to ski. Therefore, there is no need for another i.

Is “skis” a verb?

Yes. Skis can be the third-person singular present form of ski.

He skis every winter.

What is the difference between “skis” and “skies”?

Skis is the plural of ski, while skies is the plural of sky.

Is “ski’s” the plural of “ski”?

No. Ski’s normally indicates singular possession. The plural is skis.

Is “skis” correct in both American and British English?

Yes. Skis is the standard plural spelling in both varieties of English.

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Final Answer

Skis is the correct spelling, while skiis is a misspelling.

Whenever you mean more than one ski, use:

ski → skis ✅

For example:

We packed our skis for the trip.

Also remember that skis can be either a plural noun or a verb:

Her skis are new.
She skis every winter.

So the simplest rule is:

One ski, two skis.

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