Confusing words explained
“color” vs “colour” — What’s the Difference?
'Color' is American English; 'colour' is British.
Key takeaway
Quick Difference: color vs colour
'Color' is American English; 'colour' is British.
color vs colour Side-by-Side Comparison
Meaning of color
The visual property of objects that depends on the light they reflect, such as red, blue, or green.
The visual appearance of something, like red, blue, green, or yellow.
Use 'color' as both noun and verb: 'What color is it?' and 'Color the picture.'
- My favorite color is blue.
- She painted the wall a bright color.
Meaning of colour
The visual property of objects based on light reflection.
One of the basic colors like red, blue, yellow, or green that you see in things around you.
Use 'colour' in British and Commonwealth English contexts.
- What is your favourite colour?
- The artist mixed primary colours to create new shades.
Usage Notes & Nuance
color: Color meanings vary across cultures; for example, white symbolizes purity in Western cultures but mourning in some Asian cultures.
colour: British and Commonwealth English spelling. Americans spell it 'color'.
How to Remember the Difference
Colour has a U like the United Kingdom; color drops it like in the United States.
Common Mistakes with color and colour
Mistake with color
Wrong: What is the color of the car?
Correct: What color is the car?
Use 'What color' directly as an interrogative adjective, not 'color of'.
Mistake with color
Wrong: She has a favorite colors.
Correct: She has favorite colors.
Don't use both possessive 'a' and plural 's'; pick one form.
Practice Quiz: color or colour?
Choose the word that best completes each real example sentence.
Question 1
My favorite _____ is blue.
Question 2
She painted the wall a bright _____.
Question 3
What is your favourite _____?
Pick at least one answer, then press Check answers to see how you did.
You scored 0 out of 3
Frequently Asked Questions About color vs colour
What’s the difference between “color” and “colour”?
'Color' is American English; 'colour' is British.
When should I use “color”?
Use 'color' as both noun and verb: 'What color is it?' and 'Color the picture.'
When should I use “colour”?
Use 'colour' in British and Commonwealth English contexts.
How can I remember color vs colour?
Colour has a U like the United Kingdom; color drops it like in the United States.
Is it “color” or “colour” in example sentences?
Use the quiz above to test the pair with real example sentences from the available word data.