Neighbor vs. Neighbour: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Neighbor and Neighbour are the same in meaning, referring to someone living near or next to another; the difference lies in American English ("Neighbor") vs. British English ("Neighbour") spelling.
Key Differences
Neighbor is the American English spelling for a person living near or next to another. Neighbour is the British English version of the same word, with an extra 'u'.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
In American English, the word Neighbor is used in contexts like neighborhood, neighboring, etc. In British English, these terms are spelled as Neighbour, neighbourhood, neighbouring, etc.
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Nov 25, 2023
The pronunciation of Neighbor in American English and Neighbour in British English is similar despite the spelling difference. Both words have the same meaning in their respective dialects.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
When writing for an American audience, the correct form is Neighbor. For British or Commonwealth countries, Neighbour is the preferred spelling.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
Both Neighbor and Neighbour are used in legal, social, and community contexts in American and British English, respectively, with no difference in their application or meaning.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
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Comparison Chart
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Neighbor and Neighbour Definitions
Neighbor
Someone residing in close proximity to another.
We asked our neighbor for help during the storm.
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Nov 20, 2023
Neighbour
A person living near or next to another.
Our new neighbour invited us over for tea.
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Nov 20, 2023
Neighbor
A nearby inhabitant or adjacent entity.
Their garden was admired by every neighbor on the street.
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Nov 20, 2023
Neighbour
Someone residing in the vicinity of another.
She borrowed some sugar from her neighbour.
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Nov 20, 2023
Neighbor
A person living near or next to another.
My neighbor always greets me with a smile.
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Nov 20, 2023
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Neighbour
In a wider sense, any entity or person close by.
France is a neighbour to Germany.
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Nov 20, 2023
Neighbor
In a broader sense, any person or place near another.
Canada is a neighbor to the United States.
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Nov 20, 2023
Neighbor
Figuratively, someone or something akin or similar.
Chocolate cake is the neighbor to my heart.
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Nov 20, 2023
Neighbour
A person living on adjacent or nearby land; a person situated adjacently or nearby; anything (of the same type of thing as the subject) in an adjacent or nearby position.
My neighbour has two noisy cats.
They′re our neighbours across the street.
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Oct 19, 2023
Neighbour
(transitive) To be adjacent to
Though France neighbours Germany, its culture is significantly different.
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Oct 19, 2023
Neighbour
To be similar to, to be almost the same as.
That sort of talk is neighbouring on treason.
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Oct 19, 2023
Neighbour
A nearby object of the same kind;
Fort Worth is a neighbor of Dallas
What is the closest neighbor to the Earth?
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Oct 19, 2023
Neighbor
A person who lives near another; one whose abode is not far off.
Masters, my good friends, mine honest neighbors.
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Oct 19, 2023
Neighbor
One who is near in sympathy or confidence.
BuckinghamNo more shall be the neighbor to my counsel.
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Oct 19, 2023
Neighbor
One entitled to, or exhibiting, neighborly kindness; hence, one of the human race; a fellow being.
Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?
The gospel allows no such term as "stranger;" makes every man my neighbor.
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Oct 19, 2023
Neighbour
An adjacent or nearby resident.
The neighbour's dog barks loudly at night.
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Nov 20, 2023
Neighbour
Metaphorically, anything comparable or close in nature.
In literature, sorrow is often the neighbour of joy.
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Nov 20, 2023
Neighbor
To adjoin; to border on; to be near to.
Leisurely ascending hills that neighbor the shore.
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Oct 19, 2023
Neighbor
To dwell in the vicinity; to be a neighbor, or in the neighborhood; to be near.
A copse that neighbors by.
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Oct 19, 2023
Neighbor
A nearby object of the same kind;
Fort Worth is a neighbor of Dallas
What is the closest neighbor to the Earth?
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Do the words have the same plural forms?
Yes, 'neighbors' in American English and 'neighbours' in British English.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
Is there a difference in meaning between neighbor and neighbour?
No, the meaning is the same; the difference is in American (neighbor) vs. British (neighbour) spelling.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
Is the pronunciation different?
The pronunciation is generally the same for both spellings.
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Nov 25, 2023
Can I use 'neighbor' in British English?
Typically, 'neighbour' is preferred in British English, but 'neighbor' is understood.
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Nov 25, 2023
Why does American English use 'neighbor' without the 'u'?
American English often omits the 'u' in words like 'neighbor', following spelling simplification trends.
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Nov 25, 2023
Do English learners need to learn both spellings?
Yes, especially if they are exposed to both American and British English.
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Nov 25, 2023
How is 'neighbor' used in legal terms in the U.S.?
It's used in the same way as 'neighbour' in the U.K., to refer to someone living nearby, especially in property law.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
How do other English-speaking countries spell it?
Countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand generally use 'neighbour'.
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Nov 25, 2023
Is 'neighbour' ever used in American publications?
It's rare and usually only when quoting British sources or for stylistic reasons.
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Nov 25, 2023
Are there different derivatives for each spelling?
Yes, like 'neighborly' in American English and 'neighbourly' in British English.
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Nov 25, 2023
Is one spelling considered more formal than the other?
No, the formality is the same; it's more about regional usage.
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Nov 25, 2023
Does the difference affect online searches?
Yes, searching 'neighbor' might yield more American sources, while 'neighbour' may bring up British ones.
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Nov 25, 2023
Are there similar spelling variations in other English words?
Yes, such as 'color' (American) vs. 'colour' (British).
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Nov 25, 2023
In international English, which form is preferred?
International English often leans towards British spellings, so 'neighbour' might be more common.
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Nov 25, 2023
Does technology influence the use of these spellings?
Auto-correct and spell-check features might default to one based on regional settings.
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Nov 25, 2023
How do these words reflect cultural differences?
They show the nuances in language evolution and preference in different English-speaking regions.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
Can I switch between 'neighbor' and 'neighbour' in writing?
It's best to be consistent with one form based on the dialect you're using.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
Is there a historical reason for the spelling difference?
Yes, it's part of the broader divergence between American and British English spellings.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
Are there idioms that use these words differently?
Idioms generally retain the spelling based on the dialect, but the meaning remains the same.
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Nov 25, 2023
Are there any famous quotes using these words?
Yes, many quotes use 'neighbor' or 'neighbour', reflecting the author's background.
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Nov 25, 2023
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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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