Pronunciation: [hˈuːvz] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "hooves" can be confusing due to the unusual plural form. However, it follows the regular rule of adding "ves" to words that end in "f" or "fe" to make them plural, such as "knife" and "wives". In IPA phonetic transcription, "hooves" would be transcribed as /huːvz/. This demonstrates the long "oo" sound of the first syllable, followed by the voiced "v" and "z" sounds at the end.
Hooves, also known as ungual or toenails, are the hardened covering found on the ends of the limbs of certain mammals, such as horses, deer, and cows. They are composed of a tough, dense material called keratin, which is the same substance found in human fingernails and hair.
Hooves serve as a protective structure, providing support and stability to the animal while walking, running, or standing. They also act as shock absorbers, helping to reduce the impact on the limbs and joints during movement. Additionally, hooves help in providing traction, allowing the animal to maintain a firm grip on different types of surfaces, including slippery or uneven terrain.
The shape and structure of hooves can vary among different animal species. Typically, they consist of a hard outer layer, known as the hoof wall, and a softer inner section known as the hoof sole. The hoof wall is responsible for bearing most of the weight and acts as the main protective barrier. The inner section often contains a spongy structure called the laminae, which assists in absorbing shock and provides some flexibility.
Maintaining healthy hooves is crucial for the overall well-being of animals that rely on them. Regular hoof care, including trimming and cleaning, is important for preventing various hoof-related issues, such as cracking, splitting, or infections. Hoof care professionals, known as farriers, are trained in trimming and shaping hooves to ensure optimal health and function.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "hooves" is the plural form of "hoof", which refers to the hard covering on the foot of various ungulate mammals like horses, cows, and deer. The etymology of "hooves" can be traced back to the Middle English word "hoves" or "houes", which derived from the Old English word "hōfa". This Old English term shares its Germanic roots with the Dutch word "hoef" and the German word "Huf". Ultimately, all these words can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "*hōfą" from the Proto-Indo-European "*kopos", meaning "hoof" or "foot".
