Humour vs Humor

Quick Answer

The fastest way to know which spelling to use.

The difference between humor and humour comes down entirely to geography.

If you are writing for an audience in the United States, the correct spelling is humor. If you are writing for an audience in the United Kingdom, Australia, or Canada, the correct spelling is humour.

Both words refer to the exact same thing: the quality of being amusing, a mood, or the historical medical concept of bodily fluids. Neither spelling is grammatically incorrect, but using the wrong one for your target region can look out of place.

Humour vs Humor at a Glance

A side-by-side breakdown of the key differences.

Feature	Airplane (US)	Aeroplane (UK)
Standard Region	United States	United Kingdom
Spelling	H-U-M-O-R	H-U-M-O-U-R
Syllable Count	2 (HYOO-mer)	2 (HYOO-muh)
Origin	Americanized phonetic spelling	Latin (humor)
Meaning	Comedy/Mood	Comedy/Mood

American English: Humor

How the word is used in the United States.

In the United States, "humor" is the universally accepted spelling. It is used by the American Psychological Association (APA), comedians, newspapers, and everyday speakers. The spelling drops the "u" entirely, favoring a phonetic and streamlined approach.

Industry Standard

American academic journals, publishing houses, and comedy clubs exclusively use the "humor" spelling in their style guides and marketing.

Media and Publishing

Major publications like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal strictly follow the "humor" spelling.

British English: Humour

How the word is used in the United Kingdom.

In the United Kingdom, "humour" is the traditional and standard spelling. It retains the "u" to honor the word's Latin and French origins, matching the broader "-our" suffix used in British English (like colour and honour).

Cultural Presence

The spelling is ubiquitous in British culture, as "British humour" is a globally recognized concept known for its dry wit, irony, and sarcasm.

Modern Usage

Though casual speech uses the word identically, formal British writing relies on "humour" rather than the American adaptation.

What Do Both Words Mean?

The definition remains exactly the same.

Despite the spelling difference, both "humor" and "humour" mean exactly the same thing. They refer to the quality of being amusing, a person's temporary mood, or the medieval medical theory of bodily fluids.

Core Definition

The quality of being amusing or comic, especially as expressed in literature or speech.

Mood & Medicine

It also refers to a temporary state of mind ("in a good humour") or the historical four humours (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, black bile).

American English Usage

How Americans naturally use the word today.

In the US, "humor" is used in almost every context, from casual conversation to psychological studies. It applies to comedy, temperament, and coping mechanisms.

Casual Conversation

"His sense of humor is incredibly dry."

Technical Writing

"The study examines how humor is used as a coping mechanism in hospitals."

Digital Media

"The meme went viral because it relied on dark humor."

Everyday Life

"The boss was in a bad humor today, so we stayed out of his way."

British English Usage

How Britons naturally use the word today.

In the UK, "humour" holds its ground in literature, formal writing, and entertainment. Britons use it identically to how Americans use their version, applying it to comedy, mood, and temperament.

Literature and Media

"British humour is often characterized by its self-deprecation and irony."

Everyday Conversation

"He was in a remarkably good humour this morning."

Digital Media

"The article used biting humour to critique the government."

News and Journalism

"The play is a masterclass in physical humour and timing."

Which Spelling Should You Use?

Deciding based on your audience.

The decision is entirely context-driven. If you are writing an email to an American colleague, use "humor." If you are writing a postcard from London to your friends back in Britain, use "humour."

Choose "Humor" if:

You are writing for a US-based publisher, studying at an American school, or creating content primarily for an American audience.

Choose "Humour" if:

You are submitting to a UK journal, writing for a British audience, or following Commonwealth English standards.

Formal and Professional Writing

What to do in business and academic contexts.

In highly formal writing, the safest approach is to use the broader term "wit" or "comedy" for both varieties of English. "Wit" is universally accepted and avoids the regional spelling pitfalls entirely.

Business Contracts

International marketing contracts often use "wit" or "levity" to prevent ambiguity between American and British stakeholders.

Academic Research

Scientific papers regarding coping strategies generally use "comedy" or "amusement" rather than humor or humour.

Pronunciation

The spelling change does not affect how the word is spoken.

Unlike some spelling differences, the "u" vs no "u" does not change the pronunciation at all.

Word	IPA	Syllables
Airplane (US)	/ˈhjuːmər/	2 (HYOO-mer)
Aeroplane (UK)	/ˈhjuːmə/	2 (HYOO-muh)

Both American and British speakers pronounce the word identically, with the stress on the first syllable. The "u" in the British spelling is silent, just like in "colour."

Spelling Difference

A visual breakdown of the letters.

The core difference is the presence of the letter "u" right after the "o".

Humor

Humour

The American version drops the "u" entirely, aligning with Noah Webster's push for phonetic simplification. The British version retains the "u," matching the traditional French-derived "-our" suffix.

Why Are the Spellings Different?

The history behind the transatlantic split.

1. The British Adoption

When the word crossed the English Channel, the British kept the "u" to align with other French-borrowed words like "colour" and "honour," spelling it "humour."

2. Noah Webster's Reform

In the early 1800s, American lexicographer Noah Webster wanted to create a distinctly American version of English. He believed spellings should be simpler, more phonetic, and free of unnecessary silent letters. He dropped the "u" in words like "color," "honor," and "humor."

3. The Simplification

By dropping the "u," Americans turned a complex French-Latin hybrid into a simpler, more direct English word that matched its pronunciation.

Synonyms, Antonyms & Rhyming Words

Words related to, opposite of, and sounding like humor/humour.

Synonyms (Similar Meaning)

Antonyms (Opposite Meaning)

Rhyming Words (Sound Matches)

Learn More Rhyming Words

Example Sentences

See how both words function in original sentences.

Here are 30 original sentences using the American spelling, "humor."

His humor lightened the mood in the room.
The movie is full of dark humor.
She has a great sense of humor.
I love the dry humor of British sitcoms.
The teacher used humor to keep the students engaged.
He couldn't find any humor in the situation.
The comedian's humor was lost on the audience.
It was a joke in poor humor.
She tried to use humor to defuse the argument.
His brand of humor is very sarcastic.
The book is a mixture of tragedy and humor.
Good humor is essential for a happy life.
The boss was in a bad humor today.
The president's speech was filled with witty humor.
Slapstick humor relies on physical comedy.
He is known for his self-deprecating humor.
The article was a clever piece of observational humor.
You need a strong sense of humor to work in retail.
The humor in the cartoon appeals to both kids and adults.
She appreciated the gentle humor of the story.
The play is a classic example of American humor.
He used gallows humor to cope with the stress.
The humor was a bit too crude for my taste.
A little humor goes a long way in a speech.
The twins shared a peculiar sense of humor.
The humor of the situation was not lost on her.
He couldn't understand the humor in the joke.
The show relies heavily on topical humor.
She smiled at the humor of the situation.
The collection of essays is rich in humor and wit.

Here are 30 original sentences using the British spelling, "humour."

His humour lightened the mood in the room.
British humour is known for its dry wit.
She has a great sense of humour.
The movie is full of dark humour.
The teacher used humour to keep the pupils engaged.
He couldn't find any humour in the situation.
The comedian's humour was lost on the audience.
It was a joke in poor humour.
She tried to use humour to defuse the argument.
His brand of humour is very sarcastic.
The book is a mixture of tragedy and humour.
Good humour is essential for a happy life.
The boss was in a bad humour today.
The Prime Minister's speech was filled with witty humour.
Slapstick humour relies on physical comedy.
He is known for his self-deprecating humour.
The article was a clever piece of observational humour.
You need a strong sense of humour to work in retail.
The humour in the cartoon appeals to both kids and adults.
She appreciated the gentle humour of the story.
The play is a classic example of British humour.
He used gallows humour to cope with the stress.
The humour was a bit too crude for my taste.
A little humour goes a long way in a speech.
The twins shared a peculiar sense of humour.
The humour of the situation was not lost on her.
He couldn't understand the humour in the joke.
The show relies heavily on topical humour.
She smiled at the humour of the situation.
The collection of essays is rich in humour and wit.

Humor in US English

Specific contexts, industry standards, and cultural data for the American spelling.

In the United States, "humor" is the universally accepted standard across psychology, comedy, and everyday life. American academics, comedians, and media outlets use the simplified 'or' spelling exclusively.

Psychological & Academic Definition

The American Psychological Association (APA) mandates the "humor" spelling in all its literature, studying it as a cognitive coping mechanism and social bonding tool.

Comedy & Entertainment

American stand-up comedians and comedy clubs use "humor" to describe their craft. The concept of "good humor" is a staple in American social interactions.

Pop Culture & Media

The spelling is cemented in American pop culture, from movie genres like "dark humor" to television shows like "America's Funniest Home Videos."

Common American Phrases

• Sense of humor: The ability to appreciate comedy.
• Dark humor: Comedy making light of serious subjects.
• Good humor: A cheerful mood.
• Bad humor: Being grumpy or irritable.

Humour in UK English

Specific contexts, industry standards, and cultural data for the British spelling.

In the UK, "humour" is the standard in psychology, literature, and entertainment. British academics, broadcasters, and comedians retain the traditional 'our' spelling.

Psychological & Academic Usage

The British Psychological Society and NHS use "humour" in their studies on mental health, stress relief, and social behavior.

Media & Publications

British news outlets like the BBC and The Guardian consistently use the "humour" spelling in their reviews and cultural reporting.

Cultural & Literary Usage

"British humour" is a globally recognized literary and cultural concept, often associated with self-deprecation, irony, and a stiff upper lip.

Common British Phrases

• Sense of humour: The British standard for social compatibility.
• Black humour: The UK equivalent of dark humor.
• Out of humour: Being in a bad mood.
• Good humour: A positive temperament.

Related -or vs -our Vocabulary

Other words that follow this spelling pattern.

US English	UK English	Meaning
Humor	Humour	The quality of being amusing.
Color	Colour	The property of producing a sensation of hue.
Honor	Honour	High respect or great esteem.
Neighbor	Neighbour	A person living next door to the speaker.

Other US–UK Spelling Differences

More words that change when you cross the pond.

Color vs. Colour

Americans spell it "color," while Britons use "colour."

Center vs. Centre

The American spelling ends in "-er," while the British ends in "-re."

Traveler vs. Traveller

The US uses one "l," while the UK doubles the "l" in "traveller."

Catalog vs. Catalogue

Americans prefer "catalog," while Britons keep the traditional "catalogue."

Common Mistakes

Frequent errors writers make with these spellings.

Mixing spellings within the same document.

✓ Pick one regional standard and stick to it.

Why: Writing "His humor was noted for its British colour" in an American paper confuses the reader and breaks consistency.

Using "humour" in an American academic paper.

✓ Use "humor" for US-based journals and schools.

Why: American professors and publishers expect standard American English. Using the British spelling looks like a typo in this context.

Spelling it "humor" in a UK publication.

✓ Use "humour" for UK audiences.

Why: British publishers strictly enforce regional spelling standards, especially in print media and educational materials.

Assuming "humour" is outdated or archaic.

✓ Recognize it as the current, active British spelling.

Why: Some Americans assume it's an old-fashioned word, but it is entirely modern and standard in the UK today.

Overusing the word "humor" in formal writing.

✓ Use "wit" as a synonym in both varieties.

Why: In both US and UK formal writing, "wit" or "comedy" often sounds more professional than "humor/humour."

Assuming the 'u' is pronounced.

✓ Pronounce it "HYOO-mer."

Why: The "u" in the British spelling is silent, just like in "colour." It does not create an extra syllable or a different vowel sound.

Forgetting that Canada usually aligns with the UK.

✓ Use "humour" for Canadian audiences.

Why: Despite being heavily influenced by American media, Canadian English retains the British "u" in words like humour, colour, and honour.

Confusing the spelling of the adjective "humorous".

✓ It is always spelled "humorous" with an 'o' in BOTH varieties.

Why: Even in British English, the adjective form is always spelled with an 'o': humorous.

Misspelling "sense of humor" as "sense of humour" for a US app.

✓ Check the device's regional language setting.

Why: Tech interfaces adapt to the user's location. Ensure your software localization uses the correct regional spelling for UI elements.

Treating "humor" and "humour" as different words with distinct meanings.

✓ Recognize them as regional spelling variants of the same word.

Why: A humor is the exact same concept as a humour. The difference is purely orthographic and geographical.

Writing for an International Audience

How to handle the split when writing globally.

If you are writing a blog, book, or manual for a global audience, you must pick a primary English standard. Most international organizations choose either US or UK English as their default and stick to it.

Pro Tip: Because American media dominates globally, many ESL learners are more familiar with "humor." However, if your organization is based in Europe or the Commonwealth, "humour" is the expected standard.

Memory Tip

An easy way to remember which spelling belongs to which country.

If you struggle to remember the difference, use this simple association trick:

America drops the u = Humor

UK keeps the u = Humour

Notice the letter "u." The United Kingdom has a "u" in its name, and they keep the "u" in "humour." America has no "u" in its name, and they drop the "u" for "humor."

🎮 Mini Quiz

Test your knowledge with these interactive questions.

Score: 0

Streak: 0

Question: 1/20

Loading...

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to common questions.

Are 'humor' and 'humour' pronounced the same way?

Yes, they are pronounced identically. Both are pronounced with two syllables: HYOO-mer. The 'u' in the British spelling is silent.

Why does America use 'humor' instead of 'humour'?

In the early 19th century, American lexicographer Noah Webster sought to simplify American spelling to make it distinct from British English and more phonetic. Dropping the 'u' in words like 'humour' and 'colour' was part of this movement.

Is 'humour' ever used in the United States?

It is very rare in modern American English. You might occasionally see it in historical texts, but 'humor' is the undisputed standard in the US today.

What about Canada and Australia? Which spelling do they use?

Canada and Australia generally follow the British spelling ('humour'), though American media also makes the 'or' spelling widely understood.

Is 'humorous' spelled with a 'u' in the UK?

No. Even in British English, the adjective form is always spelled with an 'o': 'humorous'.

Which spelling is older, 'humor' or 'humour'?

'Humour' is the older spelling. It was adapted from the Latin 'humor' (meaning fluid) in the 14th century. 'Humor' came later as an Americanized simplification.

Should I use 'humor' or 'humour' in academic writing?

You should match the spelling to the regional standard of your audience or publisher. If you are writing for an American journal, use 'humor'. For a British or international European journal, 'humour' is preferred.

What is the origin of the word?

The word originates from the Latin word 'humor', meaning moisture or fluid. Historically, it referred to the four humours (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, black bile) that were thought to determine a person's mood.

Are there other words that follow this 'or' vs 'our' pattern?

Yes, many. The most common examples include color/colour, honor/honour, neighbor/neighbour, labor/labour, and favor/favourite.

Which word is more commonly used globally today?

Because of the dominance of American media, comedy, and Hollywood, 'humor' is highly recognized globally. However, 'humour' remains the correct standard spelling in formal British, Australian, and Canadian English.