Is it favorite or favourite? Or is it …both? Keep reading to find out.
Is it “favorite” or “favourite”?
Favorite and favourite are both correct spellings of the noun or verb or adjective meaning “a person or thing that you like more than the others of the same type”.
- UK English spells “favourite” with the “u”.
- US English spells “favorite” without the “u”.
Other “-our”/”-or” words
Other words that share the “-our” / “-or” suffix follow the same spelling conventions:
| UK English | US English |
| favour | favor |
| labour | labor |
| behaviour | behavior |
| colour | color |
| neighbour | neighbor |
| endeavour | endeavor |
Other forms of favourite/favorite
Other verb/noun forms of colour/color follow the same spelling conventions based on US/UK English:
| US English | favored, favoritism, favoring. |
| UK English | favoured, favouritism, favouring. |
Sentences with the noun favourite/favorite
The band played all my old favourites/favorites.
My very favourite/favorite film is ‘The Wizard of Oz’.
The movie has become a cult favourite/favorite.
This song is an old favourite/favorite of mine.
Sentences with the verb favourite/favorite
Summer is undoubtedly my favourite/favorite season.
English is Ashley’s favourite/favorite school subject.
What is your all-time favourite/favorite song?
January is my least favourite/favorite month.
Synonyms of favourite/favorite
- selection
- preference
- pick
Origin of the word favourite/favorite
From obsolete French favorit, from Italian favorito, past participle of favorire ‘to favour’, from Latin favor, from favere ‘show kindness to’ (related to fovere ‘cherish’).
Learn more about US English vs. UK English
- Is it Spelled Metre or Meter?
- Which is Correct: Honour or Honor?
- Is it “Behaviour” or “Behavior”?
- Is it “Labour” or “Labor”?
- Color or Colour (Which is Correct?)
- Favour or Favor (Which is Correct?)
Sources
- Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of favorite.” Online Etymology Dictionary, Accessed 29 January, 2024.
