Flavor vs. Flavour: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
"Flavor" and "Flavour" mean the same, the distinctive taste of food or drink, but "flavor" is the American spelling while "flavour" is used in British English.
Key Differences
"Flavor" is the American English spelling of the word referring to the sensory impression of food or other substances. "Flavour," on the other hand, is the British English variant of the same term. Both words describe the same concept but differ in regional spelling.
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Nov 20, 2023
In American English, "flavor" is used in all contexts related to taste, culinary arts, and food science. The British English "flavour" is used similarly in the UK, Canada, Australia, and other countries using British spelling conventions.
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"Flavor" often appears in American publications, cookbooks, and food labels, aligning with American spelling rules. "Flavour" is found in British publications and products, maintaining the British approach to English spelling.
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Nov 20, 2023
While "flavor" and "flavour" are interchangeable in meaning, the choice of spelling should correspond with the variant of English being used. For instance, an American recipe book will use "flavor," while a British recipe book will use "flavour."
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The difference in spelling does not affect the pronunciation, as both "flavor" and "flavour" are pronounced identically. This consistency in pronunciation across both spellings highlights their shared meaning and origin.
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Comparison Chart
Usage Region
United States
United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and other countries using British English
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Contexts
Used in American publications, cookbooks, and food labels.
Used in British publications, cookbooks, and food labels.
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Meaning
The distinctive taste of food or drink.
The distinctive taste of food or drink.
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Pronunciation
Pronounced the same as "flavour."
Pronounced the same as "flavor."
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Flavor and Flavour Definitions
Flavor
The distinctive taste of food or drink.
The soup has a rich flavor of herbs and spices.
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Flavour
An indication of the essential character of something.
The article had a flavour of sarcasm.
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Flavor
To impart a particular taste or quality to food or drink.
He flavored the sauce with fresh herbs.
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Flavour
The distinctive taste of food or drink.
The curry had an authentic Indian flavour.
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Flavor
An indication of the essential character of something.
The debate had a flavor of hostility.
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Flavour
A particular quality noticeable in a taste.
The tea had a subtle flavour of mint.
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Flavor
A kind or variety of something, especially food.
This ice cream comes in several different flavors.
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Flavour
A kind or variety of something, especially food.
They offer many flavours of homemade jam.
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Flavour
To impart a particular taste or quality to food or drink.
She flavoured the dessert with vanilla extract.
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Flavor
A distinctive yet intangible quality felt to be characteristic of a given thing
"What matters in literature ... is surely the idiosyncratic, the individual, the flavor or color of a particular human suffering" (Harold Bloom).
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Flavour
Standard spelling of flavor#Noun
The flavour of this apple pie is delicious.
Flavour was added to the pudding.
What flavour of bubble gum do you enjoy?
The flavour of an experience.
Debian is one flavour of the Linux operating system.
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Flavor
Any of six types of quark (down, up, strange, charm, bottom, top), distinguished by generation, electric charge, and mass.
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Flavor
Any of six types of lepton (electron, electron neutrino, muon, muon neutrino, tauon, tau neutrino), distinguished by generation, electric charge, and mass.
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Flavour
The general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people;
The feel of the city excited him
A clergyman improved the tone of the meeting
It had the smell of treason
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Flavour
The taste experience when a savoury condiment is taken into the mouth
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Flavor
The quality produced by the sensation of taste or, especially, of taste and smell in combined effect.
The flavor of this apple pie is delicious.
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Flavor
A substance used to produce a taste. Flavoring.
Flavor was added to the pudding.
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Flavor
A variety (of taste) attributed to an object.
What flavor of bubble gum do you enjoy?
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Flavor
(informal) A kind or type.
Debian is one flavor of the Linux operating system.
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Flavor
(particle physics) One of the six types of quarks (top, bottom, strange, charmed, up, and down) or three types of leptons (electron, muon, and tauon).
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Flavor
(archaic) The quality produced by the sensation of smell; odour; fragrance.
The flavor of a rose
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Flavor
That quality of anything which affects the smell; odor; fragrances; as, the flavor of a rose.
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Flavor
That quality of anything which affects the taste; that quality which gratifies the palate; relish; zest; savor; as, the flavor of food or drink.
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Flavor
That which imparts to anything a peculiar odor or taste, gratifying to the sense of smell, or the nicer perceptions of the palate; a substance which flavors.
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Flavor
That quality which gives character to any of the productions of literature or the fine arts.
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Flavor
To give flavor to; to add something (as salt or a spice) to, to give character or zest.
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Flavor
The general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people;
The feel of the city excited him
A clergyman improved the tone of the meeting
It had the smell of treason
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Oct 19, 2023
Flavor
The taste experience when a savoury condiment is taken into the mouth
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Flavor
A particular quality noticeable in a taste.
She detected a bitter flavor in the chocolate.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is the main difference between "flavor" and "flavour"?
The main difference is regional spelling: "flavor" is American English, while "flavour" is British English.
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Nov 20, 2023
Is "flavor" only used in American publications?
Generally, "flavor" is preferred in American English, including publications and everyday use.
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Do "flavor" and "flavour" mean the same thing?
Yes, both words mean the same thing, referring to the taste of food or drink.
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Can "flavor" and "flavour" be used interchangeably?
They can be used interchangeably, but it's best to stick to one spelling based on the regional audience.
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Can the spelling affect search results online?
Yes, using "flavor" might yield more American sources, while "flavour" may bring up British sources.
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Is one spelling more correct than the other?
No, both spellings are correct within their respective regional contexts.
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Do British English speakers use "flavour"?
Yes, "flavour" is the standard spelling in British English.
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Are there any pronunciation differences?
No, "flavor" and "flavour" are pronounced the same way.
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Do English English teachers teach both spellings?
English teachers usually teach the spelling that corresponds to the regional form of English they are teaching.
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In cooking, is one term preferred over the other?
The preference depends on the regional variant of English being used, not on the cooking context.
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Is there any difference in usage in the food industry?
The food industry in each region typically uses the spelling customary to that region.
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How do English learners choose which spelling to use?
English learners should choose the spelling based on the variant of English they are learning or using (American or British).
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Do dictionaries list both spellings?
Yes, most English dictionaries list both spellings and note their regional usage.
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Do any English dialects outside the UK and US use a different spelling?
Other English dialects, like Australian and New Zealand English, typically follow British spelling with "flavour."
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Does the spelling variation extend to other derivatives like "flavorful"/"flavourful"?
Yes, the variation extends to derivatives: "flavorful" in American English and "flavourful" in British English.
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Are there variations in the use of these words in different English-speaking countries?
Yes, countries like Canada may use "flavour," while the U.S. uses "flavor."
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In scientific contexts, which spelling is used?
In scientific contexts, American publications use "flavor," while British ones use "flavour."
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In bilingual contexts, which version is preferred?
The preference depends on the dominant form of English used in the bilingual context.
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Has the spelling changed over time?
The spellings have been consistent, with "flavor" in American English and "flavour" in British English.
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In international English exams, which spelling is accepted?
International English exams usually accept both spellings as correct.
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Nov 20, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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