Favorite vs. Favourite: American and British Spelling, Examples, and Related Words

Favorite is the standard spelling in American English. Favourite is the standard spelling in British English and in many other varieties of English.

• American English: This is my favorite song.
• British English: This is my favourite song.

Both spellings are correct. The right choice depends on your audience and the spelling style you are using.

Favorite vs. favourite at a glance

Spelling	English variety	Example
favorite	American English	Chocolate is my favorite flavor.
favourite	British English	Chocolate is my favourite flavour.

Quick rule:

1. Writing for US readers? Use favorite.
2. Writing for UK readers? Use favourite.
3. Keep your spelling style consistent.

When to use favorite

Use favorite in American English.

• What is your favorite movie?
• My favorite color is green.
• This is her favorite restaurant.
• Save this page as a favorite.

For a US-focused website, favorite is usually the better spelling.

Favorite as an adjective

As an adjective, favorite describes the person or thing someone likes best.

• my favorite book
• her favorite teacher
• their favorite place
• our favorite example

Example: My favorite grammar rule is the one I can actually remember.

Favorite as a noun

Favorite can also be a noun.

• This song is a favorite.
• She is the favorite to win the race.
• Add the website to your favorites.

In sports or competitions, the favorite is the person or team expected to win.

When to use favourite

Use favourite in British English and in many countries that follow British spelling.

• What is your favourite film?
• My favourite colour is blue.
• This café is a local favourite.
• The team is the favourite to win.

The meaning is the same as favorite. Only the spelling changes.

Is favorite or favourite correct?

Both are correct. They are regional spellings of the same word.

• Favorite = American spelling
• Favourite = British spelling

The important thing is consistency. Do not switch between the two spellings in the same article unless you are explaining the difference.

Favorite or favourite for a US audience?

Use favorite for a US audience.

• Correct for US readers: What is your favorite color?
• Less natural for US readers: What is your favourite colour?

American readers will understand favourite, but it may look British or inconsistent if the rest of the content uses American spelling.

Favorite or favourite in Canada?

Canadian English often uses British-style spelling for words like favourite, colour, and neighbour.

However, spelling can vary by publication, company, and context. If you are writing for a Canadian organization, follow its style guide.

For general US-focused content, use favorite.

Related American and British spellings

The -or and -our pattern appears in many words.

American English	British English
favorite	favourite
color	colour
flavor	flavour
behavior	behaviour
neighbor	neighbour
honor	honour
labor	labour
humor	humour

American English usually drops the u. British English often keeps it.

Favor or favour?

The same pattern appears in the base word.

• American English: Could you do me a favor?
• British English: Could you do me a favour?

Related forms:

American English	British English
favor	favour
favored	favoured
favoring	favouring
favorable	favourable
favoritism	favouritism

Notice that not every form is identical in pattern, so checking a dictionary or style guide can help for formal documents.

Favorite color or favourite colour?

Use favorite color in American English.

• My favorite color is purple.

Use favourite colour in British English.

• My favourite colour is purple.

Both words change between US and UK spelling.

Favorite in apps, browsers, and menus

In American English, favorite is also common in software, browsers, shopping apps, and social platforms.

• Add this page to your favorites.
• Tap the star icon to favorite the item.
• Your favorite products are saved in your account.

British interfaces may use favourite depending on the product’s language settings.

• Add this page to your favourites.
• Tap the star icon to favourite the item.

For websites targeting US users, favorites is the more natural menu label.

Favorite vs. preferred

Favorite means the one someone likes best. Preferred means chosen or favored in a particular situation, often in a more formal or practical way.

• My favorite drink is coffee.
• My preferred payment method is credit card.
• This is my favorite example.
• Email is our preferred contact method.

Use favorite/favourite for personal likes. Use preferred when the meaning is more about choice, policy, or practical preference.

Common mistakes and corrections

Mixed style: My favourite color is blue.

Better for American English: My favorite color is blue.

Use American spelling consistently.

Mixed style: My favorite colour is blue.

Better for British English: My favourite colour is blue.

Use British spelling consistently.

Incorrect assumption: Favourite is wrong.

Correct: Favourite is correct in British English.

It is not wrong; it is regional.

Incorrect assumption: Favorite is informal.

Correct: Favorite is standard American English.

It is not a shortcut or casual misspelling.

Inconsistent: This is my favorite song and favourite album.

Better: This is my favorite song and favorite album.

Or, for British English:

• This is my favourite song and favourite album.

Examples with favorite and favourite together

• In American English, write favorite; in British English, write favourite.
• A US website should usually use favorite, not favourite.
• A UK worksheet may use favourite, not favorite.
• The spelling changes, but the meaning stays the same.
• If your document uses colour, it will probably also use favourite.

These examples show that the difference is about spelling style, not meaning.

How to remember favorite and favourite

Use this memory trick:

• favorite is the shorter American spelling.
• favourite has u, like many British -our spellings.

Remember the pair:

• US: favorite color
• UK: favourite colour

Quick quiz

Choose the better spelling for the audience.

1. US audience: my ___ song
2. UK audience: my ___ song
3. American English: ___ color
4. British English: ___ colour
5. US audience: add to ___
6. UK audience: local ___
7. American English: do me a ___
8. British English: do me a ___

Answers

1. favorite
2. favourite
3. favorite
4. favourite
5. favorites
6. favourite
7. favor
8. favour

FAQ

What is the difference between favorite and favourite?

There is no meaning difference. Favorite is American spelling, and favourite is British spelling.

Which spelling should I use for a US audience?

Use favorite for a US audience.

Which spelling should I use for a UK audience?

Use favourite for a UK audience.

Is favourite wrong in American English?

It is understandable, but it looks British. For American English, favorite is standard.

Is favorite wrong in British English?

It is understandable, but favourite is standard in British English.

Should I use both spellings in one article?

Only use both when explaining the difference. Otherwise, choose one spelling style and stay consistent.

The same context-first habit also helps with Color vs. Colour and Active Voice vs. Passive Voice. For a wider set of examples in this topic, use the American vs British English archive as the category grows.

Final tip

Use favorite for American English and favourite for British English.

Remember: US = favorite, UK = favourite.