Favorite and favourite are both correct — they’re the same word spelled differently on either side of the Atlantic. Favorite is the American English spelling, while favourite is the British English spelling (also standard in Canada, Australia, and most other English-speaking countries outside the US). Neither one is a typo or a mistake; the “right” choice just depends on which English you’re writing.
The Short Answer
Use favorite if you’re writing for a US audience, an American publication, or American software (like most US-based websites and apps). Use favourite if you’re writing for a UK, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, or South African audience, or anywhere British spelling conventions apply.
- Favorite — American English (US)
- Favourite — British English (UK, Australia, Canada, Ireland, most Commonwealth countries)
Why There Are Two Spellings
This split isn’t random. It traces back to Noah Webster, the American lexicographer who published his influential dictionary in the early 1800s. Webster wanted American English to look distinct and, in his view, more logical than British English. He dropped the “u” from a whole family of words borrowed from French — colour, honour, labour, flavour, and favourite among them — turning them into color, honor, labor, flavor, and favorite.
Britain never made that change, so favourite kept its French-inflected “u,” in line with words like colour and neighbour. Both spellings trace back to the same root: the Old French word “favorit,” itself from the Latin “favor.”
The -or/-our Pattern
Favorite/favourite belongs to a large group of words that follow this same US/UK pattern:
| American (US) | British (UK) |
|---|---|
| favorite | favourite |
| color | colour |
| flavor | flavour |
| honor | honour |
| labor | labour |
| neighbor | neighbour |
If you know one word in this pattern, you can usually guess the others — the rule is consistent across the whole set.
Examples in a Sentence
- American: “Pizza is my favorite food, hands down.”
- British: “Pizza is my favourite food, hands down.”
- American: “She’s the favorite to win the championship.”
- British: “She’s the favourite to win the championship.”
Notice the meaning never changes — only the spelling does. Both words work as a noun (“this is my favorite”) and an adjective (“my favorite song”), and both have the same pronunciation.
Which to Use When
Consistency matters more than which variant you pick. If you choose favorite, stick with American spelling throughout your document — color, not colour; organize, not organise. Mixing the two within one piece of writing looks careless, even though each individual spelling is fine on its own.
A few practical rules of thumb:
- Writing for a US company, blog, or app? Use favorite.
- Writing for a UK, Australian, or Canadian audience? Use favourite.
- Not sure of your audience? Check your style guide or match the spelling convention already used on the site or in the document.
- Global brands often pick one spelling and apply it everywhere for consistency, regardless of the reader’s location.
Key Takeaways
- Favorite is American English; favourite is British English — both are spelled correctly.
- The difference dates back to Noah Webster’s 19th-century simplification of American spelling.
- Favorite/favourite follows the same -or/-our pattern as color/colour and honor/honour.
- Pick one spelling based on your audience and stay consistent throughout your writing.
- Meaning and pronunciation are identical — only the spelling differs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is favorite or favourite the correct spelling?
Both are correct. Favorite is standard in American English, and favourite is standard in British English and most Commonwealth countries. Neither is technically wrong; the choice depends on which regional spelling convention you’re following.
Which spelling should I use in Canada?
Canadian English typically follows British conventions for this word group, so favourite is more common in Canada, though favorite does appear, especially in informal writing or US-influenced contexts.
Does favorite have the same meaning as favourite?
Yes, they mean exactly the same thing: something or someone preferred above others. The spelling difference doesn’t affect meaning, pronunciation, or grammar in any way.
Why does British English keep the “u” in favourite?
British English preserved the original French-influenced spelling. American English simplified many such words in the 1800s under Noah Webster’s reforms, dropping the “u” to create a more streamlined, American style of spelling.
Is it okay to use both spellings in the same document?
It’s best to pick one and stay consistent. Mixing favorite and favourite in the same piece of writing can look like an error even though both spellings are individually correct.
What about related words like favoritism or favouritism?
The same US/UK pattern applies: favoritism is American English, and favouritism is British English. Any word built from favorite/favourite follows the same spelling rule.
Once you know the pattern behind favorite and favourite, the rest of the -or/-our word family falls into place fast. If spelling quirks like this catch your interest, poke around the rest of Meaningiffied for more quick, clear answers on the words that trip people up.
