Favourite

How to spell favourite

9 letters · 3 syllables

How to pronounce favourite

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does favourite mean?

1. nounA person or thing preferred above all others.
2. adjectiveMost liked or preferred over others.

Favourite in a sentence

• noun

  This old jacket is my favourite for cold mornings.

• adjective

  She saved her favourite song for the end of the drive.

• noun

  The youngest child was always the teacher's favourite.

• adjective

  We booked the same favourite hotel near the harbour.

Where does favourite come from?

Language of origin: French

This word traces back to the Latin favor, meaning 'goodwill', 'kindness', or 'support', which came from the verb favere, 'to be well disposed towards' someone. The noun passed into Old French as favour, carrying the sense of warm regard or partiality, and from there it entered English in the medieval period. The -ite ending arrived through the Italian favorito and French favori, used to describe a person or thing especially singled out for affection or preference. The British and Canadian spelling keeps the -our of the parent word favour, which is the spelling trap: writers who absorb American media constantly see 'favorite' without the u. Remembering that favourite is simply favour plus -ite anchors the silent-looking u in place.

How the word is built

• favour (from Latin favor: goodwill, support)
• -ite (noun/adjective suffix)

British and American spelling

Favourite is the British spelling. American English spells it favorite.