Favorite or Favourite: Which One Is Correct in Malaysia?

If you’ve ever paused mid-email wondering whether to type “favorite” or “favourite” to impress your English teacher, you’re not alone in this.

These two spellings confuse many writers, especially Malaysians who grew up with British English but use apps and software built in the US.

So, let’s settle this once and for all: both are correct, but your choice depends on where and for whom you’re writing.

What Does “Favourite” Mean?

“Favourite” (with a u) is the British English spelling.

It’s used in most Commonwealth countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and the UK.

You’ll find it in local school textbooks, newspapers, and formal documents.

Examples:

• Ice cream is my favourite dessert.
• She’s my favourite colleague to work with.
• The favourite team won the league again.

Rule: When writing for local, academic, or Commonwealth audiences, use favourite.

What Does “Favorite” Mean?

“Favorite” (without the u) is the American English spelling.

It appears in US publications, American websites, and tech interfaces because most digital products are developed in the United States.

Examples:

• Taylor Swift is my favorite singer.
• This is my favorite app for editing photos.
• What’s your favorite colour?

Rule: When writing for an international or U.S.-based audience, use favorite to stay consistent with American spelling standards.

Favourite vs Favorite: Comparison Table

Pronunciation

Both are pronounced exactly the same:
/ˈfeɪ.vər.ɪt/ (FAY-vuh-rit).

No one can tell by listening which version you used, it only differs in writing.

Read more: Fourth or Forth: The Easy Grammar Rule You Need

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ “You’re my most favorite person.” → ✔️ “You’re my favorite person.” (Most favorite is redundant.)

❌ “My favorited restaurant is near here.” → ✔️ “My favourite restaurant is near here.” (Use the adjective, not a made-up past tense.)

❌ “Add to favourite’s list.” → ✔️ “Add to favourites list.” (No apostrophe needed.)

Regional Writing Tips

Malaysia & Singapore

• Stick with favourite in schools, universities, and formal writing.
• Switch to favorite only when writing for U.S. or global audiences (e.g., websites, marketing content, or tech documentation).

International Businesses

Maintain spelling consistency within your brand. Pick one version and apply it across your website, brochures, and reports. Consistency is important.

Example:

PRESS uses favourite in Malaysian PR content but adapts to favorite when publishing for global media platforms.

Memory Tips

• Favourite = British (the “u” stands for United Kingdom).
• Favorite = American (shorter, simpler, typical of US English).
  
  
• If you see words like colour, honour, neighbour, you’re looking at British English, all keep the “u.”
• If your spell-checker keeps correcting you, check your Grammarly, Word or Google Docs language setting (it may be set to U.S. English).

Business & Academic Usage

Getting the spelling right helps you appear credible and consistent. Here’s how it matters in different contexts:

Emails & Reports

❌ “Thank you for your favorite support.”
✔️ “Thank you for your favourite support.”

Marketing Materials

❌ “Malaysia’s Favorite Hair Salon.”
✔️ “Malaysia’s Favourite Hair Salon.” (if your audience is local).

Essays & Assignments

❌ “My favorite hobby is reading.”
✔️ “My favourite hobby is reading.”

Social Media Posts (Global)

✔️ “My favorite place in the world 🌏” (short, platform-friendly).

Practice Routine

1. Spot & Swap (2 mins)

Find and correct:
❌ “My favorite colour is blue.”
✔️ “My favourite colour is blue.”

2. Write 3 Sentences (3 mins)

• My favourite drink is iced coffee.
• This is my favourite local spot to relax.
• She’s everyone’s favourite manager.

3. Quick Quiz (1 min)

Which is correct?
a) Hi Ali, what is your (favorite/favourite) subject?
b) Hello Mark from America, what’s your (favorite/favourite) song?

Answer: a) favourite (British), b) favorite (American).

Conclusion: Favorite or Favourite?

Both are right, but the choice depends on your audience and context.

Favourite = British, Malaysian, and Commonwealth spelling.
Favorite = American spelling used globally online.

The meaning never changes, only the spelling does.

So, pick one and stay consistent across your writing, it’s professionalism that readers notice first.

At PRESS, we help Malaysian brands to write with precision, local relevance, and global polish.

From media releases to SEO content, we make sure your words are right for every audience.

Say it smart and say it right, with PRESS, Malaysia’s best PR agency.