You searched “favorite o favourite” because you weren’t sure which spelling to trust — and the honest answer is both are correct. “Favorite” is the American English spelling, while “favourite” is the British English spelling — they mean exactly the same thing and are pronounced the same way. Which one you should use just depends on which style of English you’re writing in.
The Short Answer
There’s no right or wrong here, only regional preference. Favorite drops the “u” and is standard in the United States. Favourite keeps the “u” and is standard in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and most other English-speaking countries outside North America. Pick one and stay consistent throughout your document — that’s the only real rule.
Why the Difference Exists
This split traces back to Noah Webster, the American lexicographer who published his dictionary in 1828. Webster wanted American English to look distinct from British English, so he trimmed the “u” from words like colour, honour, and favour to make them simpler and more phonetic. British English kept the original French-influenced spelling, which is why you still see that “u” in “favourite,” “colourful,” and “neighbour” across the UK and Commonwealth countries.
Which One Should You Use?
It comes down to your audience, not a grammar rule.
- Writing for a US audience, an American company, or US-based software? Use favorite.
- Writing for a UK, Australian, Canadian, or Commonwealth audience? Use favourite.
- Working on a specific project, publication, or company style guide? Follow whatever it specifies, even if it contradicts your personal habit.
- Not sure who’s reading? Pick one spelling and use it consistently — mixing both in the same piece looks careless.
| Spelling | Region | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Favorite | United States | Pizza is my favorite food. |
| Favourite | UK, Australia, Canada, etc. | Pizza is my favourite food. |
Examples in a Sentence
- American: “What’s your favorite movie of all time?”
- British: “What’s your favourite movie of all time?”
- American: “She’s the favorite to win the election.”
- British: “She’s the favourite to win the election.”
Related Word Forms
The same “u” rule carries over to related words, so keep your choice consistent across the whole family of terms:
- Favorited / Favourited — past tense, as in saving a post or item
- Favoritism / Favouritism — the noun for unfair preferential treatment
- Favoring / Favouring — the present participle form
Note that both American and British English drop the “u” in “favorable”… actually, no — British English keeps it there too, as “favourable.” The pattern holds across nearly every derivative, so once you commit to one spelling, apply it everywhere in your writing.
Key Takeaways
- Favorite is American English; favourite is British English — both are spelled correctly, just in different regions.
- The difference dates back to Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary, which simplified many British spellings.
- Match your spelling to your audience or your style guide, not personal preference alone.
- Stay consistent — don’t switch between the two spellings within the same piece of writing.
- Related words like favorited, favoritism, and favoring follow the same regional pattern.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “favorite” or “favourite” more correct?
Neither is more correct than the other. “Favorite” is standard American spelling, and “favourite” is standard British spelling. Both are fully accepted in their respective regions.
Which spelling does spell-check flag?
It depends on your software’s language setting. If your document is set to US English, “favourite” will be flagged as a misspelling, and vice versa for UK English settings.
Do Canadians use favorite or favourite?
Canadian English typically follows British spelling conventions here, so “favourite” is more common in Canada, though “favorite” also appears due to heavy US media influence.
Does Google prefer one spelling for SEO?
Google understands both spellings as the same word and generally shows relevant results regardless of which one you search. For content, use the spelling that matches your target audience’s region.
Is it “my favorite” or “my favourite” in formal writing?
Both are acceptable in formal writing as long as you’re consistent with the regional English variety used throughout the rest of the document.
Once you know the rule — American drops the “u,” British keeps it — this becomes one of the easiest spelling choices to get right every time. Browse more of Meaningiffied’s spelling comparisons if you want to clear up other American-versus-British quirks like these.
