Confusing words explained
“favourite” vs “favorite” — What’s the Difference?
'Favorite' is American; 'favourite' is British spelling.
Key takeaway
Quick Difference: favourite vs favorite
'Favorite' is American; 'favourite' is British spelling.
favourite vs favorite Side-by-Side Comparison
Meaning of favourite
Liked or preferred most; the one you enjoy above all others.
Your top choice; the thing you like better than anything else.
Use 'favourite' as an adjective before a noun or after 'be' in British English.
- What is your favourite food?
- Her favourite author is Jane Austen.
Meaning of favorite
Preferred more than others; liked the most.
The one you like best or enjoy most.
Use as an adjective before a noun: 'my favorite song.' As a noun: 'That is my favorite.'
- Pizza is my favorite food.
- What is your favorite color?
Usage Notes & Nuance
favourite: British and Commonwealth spelling. Americans spell it 'favorite'.
How to Remember the Difference
Favourite has a U like the United Kingdom; favorite drops it like the United States.
Common Mistakes with favourite and favorite
Mistake with favorite
Wrong: My favorite is the blue one.
Correct: My favorite is the blue one. OR I like the blue one best.
While grammatical, 'favorite' is better used as an adjective: 'blue is my favorite.'
Mistake with favorite
Wrong: She is the favorite student in class.
Correct: She is the favorite student in the class. OR She is the teacher's favorite.
Use 'of' or possessive form for clarity when referring to whose favorite.
Practice Quiz: favourite or favorite?
Choose the word that best completes each real example sentence.
Question 1
What is your _____ food?
Question 2
Her _____ author is Jane Austen.
Question 3
The _____ candidate won the election.
Pick at least one answer, then press Check answers to see how you did.
You scored 0 out of 3
Frequently Asked Questions About favourite vs favorite
What’s the difference between “favourite” and “favorite”?
'Favorite' is American; 'favourite' is British spelling.
When should I use “favourite”?
Use 'favourite' as an adjective before a noun or after 'be' in British English.
When should I use “favorite”?
Use as an adjective before a noun: 'my favorite song.' As a noun: 'That is my favorite.'
How can I remember favourite vs favorite?
Favourite has a U like the United Kingdom; favorite drops it like the United States.
Is it “favourite” or “favorite” in example sentences?
Use the quiz above to test the pair with real example sentences from the available word data.