Favourite and favorite are both correct — they’re the same word spelled differently depending on which English you’re using. Favourite is the British English spelling, used across the UK, Australia, Canada, and most Commonwealth countries. Favorite is the American English spelling, used in the United States. Neither one is a typo; the difference just comes down to your audience.
The Short Answer
Pick based on where your reader is, not based on which one “looks right” to you.
- Favourite — British, Australian, Canadian, and Commonwealth English
- Favorite — American English
Both mean the same thing: something you like best, or the act of preferring one thing over others. There’s no shift in meaning or tone between them — it’s purely spelling.
Why the Spelling Differs
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 dropped the “u” from a whole family of words: colour became color, honour became honor, favourite became favorite. The pattern stuck, and it’s why you’ll see the same “-our” versus “-or” divide in dozens of other word pairs today.
British English kept the older French-influenced spelling with the “u,” which is why favourite, colourful, and neighbourhood all still carry it in the UK.
The Same Pattern Shows Up Elsewhere
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| colour | color |
| favourite | favorite |
| honour | honor |
| neighbour | neighbor |
| humour | humor |
If you already know one of these pairs, you know them all — the rule is consistent.
Which One Should You Use?
Match your spelling to your audience, not your personal habit:
- Writing for a US audience, an American publication, or American software (spell-check will flag “favourite” as wrong)? Use favorite.
- Writing for UK, Australian, Canadian, Indian, or other Commonwealth readers? Use favourite.
- Writing something global with no fixed audience? Pick one spelling and stay consistent throughout the piece — mixing both looks careless.
Canada is a slight exception: Canadian English leans British for “favourite” but often mixes American spellings elsewhere, so check your organization’s style guide if you’re writing for a Canadian audience specifically.
Examples in a Sentence
- American: “Pizza is my favorite food.”
- British: “Pizza is my favourite food.”
- American: “She’s the favorite to win the race.”
- British: “She’s the favourite to win the race.”
Notice the word works the same way grammatically in both versions — as a noun or an adjective. Only the letters change.
Key Takeaways
- Favourite (with the “u”) is British/Commonwealth English; favorite (without it) is American English.
- Both spellings are correct — there’s no meaning difference, only a regional one.
- The split dates back to Noah Webster’s 1828 American dictionary, which dropped the “u” from many “-our” words.
- Stay consistent: don’t switch between spellings within the same document.
- Let your audience decide which spelling to use, especially for professional or published writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “favourite” or “favorite” grammatically correct?
Both are grammatically correct. Favourite is standard in British English, and favorite is standard in American English. Neither is a spelling error in its own region.
Which spelling does Canada use?
Canadian English typically uses “favourite,” following British conventions, though Canadian spelling can be inconsistent and sometimes borrows American forms elsewhere.
Does Microsoft Word or Google Docs flag one as wrong?
Only if your document’s language setting doesn’t match. Set to “English (US),” Word will flag “favourite”; set to “English (UK),” it will flag “favorite.” Check your language settings before assuming either is a typo.
Can I use both spellings in the same article?
It’s best not to. Mixing “favourite” and “favorite” in one piece looks inconsistent and can distract readers. Pick one based on your target audience and use it throughout.
Does “favorite” ever mean something different from “favourite”?
No. Both spellings share identical meanings and uses, whether as a noun (“she’s my favorite”), an adjective (“my favorite book”), or a verb in some contexts (“to favourite a post” on social media).
Spelling choices like this one show up constantly in everyday writing, and getting them right builds trust with your reader. Browse more entries on Meaningiffied.com if you want quick, reliable answers to other British-versus-American spelling questions.
