Eifel (Eiffel)

If you typed "Eifel" when referring to the Paris landmark or its designer, you made a common spelling slip. Use "Eiffel" (two f's) for Gustave Eiffel and the Eiffel Tower. "Eifel" (one f) is a German region and is correct only in that context.

Quick answer

Write Eiffel (two f's) for the engineer and the Paris landmark: Eiffel Tower. Use Eifel (one f) only for the Eifel region in Germany. Capitalize both words and keep a space.

Eiffel = Gustave Eiffel; Eiffel Tower (Paris).
Eifel = the Eifel region/hills in Germany.
Form: Eiffel Tower (two words, both capitalized).

Core explanation

Eiffel is a French surname-Gustave Eiffel-so the monument named for him keeps that spelling. Eifel is a German toponym referring to a volcanic hill range in western Germany. Context decides which form belongs: Paris/engineer = Eiffel; German hikes = Eifel.

Grammar and capitalization

Treat "Eiffel Tower" as a two-word proper noun. Capitalize both words, and use standard possessive and modifier rules: "the Eiffel Tower's elevators" or "Eiffel Tower hours".

Wrong: eiffel tower / EiffelTower / Eiffel-tower
Right: Eiffel Tower / the Eiffel Tower's elevators / Eiffel Tower hours
For the engineer, use Gustave Eiffel (note the given name Gustave).

Hyphenation & spacing

Never hyphenate or run the name together. Keep the space between Eiffel and Tower, even in short UI labels: use "Eiffel Tower Hours" not "Eiffel-Tower" or "EiffelTower".

Do: Eiffel Tower, Visit the Eiffel Tower, Eiffel Tower Hours.
Don't: Eiffel-Tower, EiffelTower, EiffelTower's.

Real usage and tone

Accuracy matters across tones. Formal writing and travel copy need correct spelling for credibility and searchability. Casual posts can be informal but should still use the right name.

Formal: "The Eiffel Tower, completed in 1889, was designed by Gustave Eiffel."
Travel: "Visit the Eiffel Tower at sunset for the best photos."
Casual: "Finally saw the Eiffel Tower today! 😍" (spelled correctly)

Examples: wrong → right pairs (work, school, casual)

Copy these corrected sentences directly into emails, essays, or posts.

Work (professional)

Wrong: "Our marketing shoot will feature the Eifel Tower background."
Right: "Our marketing shoot will feature the Eiffel Tower background."
Wrong: "The Eifel Tower's lighting requires permits."
Right: "The Eiffel Tower's lighting requires permits."
Wrong: "We benchmarked footfall against Eifel Tower visitor numbers."
Right: "We benchmarked footfall against Eiffel Tower visitor numbers."

School (essays, reports)

Wrong: "Gustav Eiffel designed the Eifel Tower for the 1889 exposition."
Right: "Gustave Eiffel designed the Eiffel Tower for the 1889 exposition."
Wrong: "A study compared the Eifel and other landmarks."
Right: "A study compared the Eiffel Tower and other landmarks."
Wrong: "The height of the Eifel is often misreported."
Right: "The height of the Eiffel Tower is often misreported."

Casual (social, messages)

Wrong: "Met at the base of the Eifel today!"
Right: "Met at the base of the Eiffel Tower today!"
Wrong: "Photos from Eifel were amazing."
Right: "Photos from the Eiffel Tower were amazing."
Wrong: "Can't wait to see Eifel next summer."
Right: "Can't wait to see the Eiffel Tower next summer."

Rewrite help: three quick rewrites and a checklist

Checklist before you edit: (1) Confirm if you mean Paris/engineer or the German region. (2) If Paris/engineer, change Eifel → Eiffel, capitalize both words, and include "Tower" when relevant.

Three tone options to replace a wrong sentence:

Original (wrong): "The Eifel was brighter at sunset."
Formal: "The Eiffel Tower appeared particularly bright at sunset."
Neutral: "The Eiffel Tower looked brighter at sunset."
Casual: "The Eiffel Tower was glowing at sunset-stunning!"

Memory tricks and quick rules

Use short, repeatable cues that stick.

Visual: Imagine two flags (ff) flying from the top of the tower-double f for Eiffel.
Name-based: Remember "Gustave Eiffel" (two f's). The tower uses the same spelling.
Practical: Add an autocorrect or text shortcut: "eifel" → "Eiffel Tower".

Similar mistakes and names to watch

Nearly identical words can cause confusion. Check context before you pick a spelling.

Eifel (German region) vs Eiffel (tower/engineer).
Gustave (correct French first name) vs Gustav-use Gustave for Gustave Eiffel.
"Tour Eiffel" is the French name and is acceptable in English contexts where French phrasing fits.

Wrong: "Gustav Eiffel designed the tower."
Right: "Gustave Eiffel designed the tower."
Wrong: "We hiked the Eiffel and then flew to Paris."
Right: "We hiked in the Eifel and later visited the Eiffel Tower in Paris."

Practice, tools, and quick edits

Add a short proofreading pass focused on proper nouns. A targeted find for "Eifel" catches most slips quickly. Autocorrects and text expansions stop repeat mistakes before you publish.

Do a document-wide search for "Eifel" and replace where the context indicates the Paris tower.
Create a keyboard shortcut that expands "eifel" to "Eiffel Tower."
Use a spellchecker as a backstop but rely on the mnemonic to internalize the correct form.

FAQ

Is "Eifel" ever correct?

"Eifel" (one f) is correct only for the Eifel region in Germany. It is incorrect for Gustave Eiffel or the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Why does the Eiffel Tower have two f's?

Because it is named after Gustave Eiffel; proper names preserve their historical spelling, and his surname contains two f's.

Can I use "Tour Eiffel" instead of "Eiffel Tower"?

Yes. "Tour Eiffel" is the French name and is fine in English when the French wording suits the tone. Otherwise use "Eiffel Tower."

Will spellcheckers always catch "Eifel"?

Many spellcheckers will flag it, but not all. A targeted search or an autocorrect entry is more reliable.

How should I format possessives or short labels?

Use normal possessive rules: "the Eiffel Tower's elevators" and "Eiffel Tower Hours." No hyphens and capitalize both words.

Quick habit to prevent the error

Add a one-time autocorrect entry (e.g., "eifel" → "Eiffel Tower") and run a final find-for-proper-nouns pass on drafts. Those two small steps stop most repeat mistakes without slowing your workflow.