Have you ever typed “savour or savor” and wondered which spelling is correct? You are not alone. English has many words that change spelling between British and American English, and this is one of them.
The good news is simple: both “savour” and “savor” are correct. The main difference is regional spelling. Savour is the usual British English spelling, while savor is the usual American English spelling.
People search for “savour or savor” because they want to know which form to use in emails, essays, websites, recipes, business writing, and everyday English.
The answer depends mainly on your audience and the English style you follow.This guide explains the difference, gives clear examples, and shows when to use each spelling.
It also covers the word’s history, common mistakes, and usage patterns. By the end, you will know exactly whether to write savour or savor and how to keep your spelling consistent.
Savour or Savor Quick Answer
Savour and savor have the same meaning. The difference is spelling.
- Savour = British English
- Savor = American English
Both can be used as a verb or a noun.
As a verb, the word means to enjoy something fully, especially food, a smell, or an experience.
British English:
Take time to savour the meal.
American English:
Take time to savor the meal.
The noun can describe a particular taste, smell, or distinctive quality.
The soup had a rich savour.
The soup had a rich savor.
The same spelling pattern appears in related words:
| British English | American English |
| savour | savor |
| savoured | savored |
| savouring | savoring |
| savoury | savory |
So, neither spelling is wrong. Choose the spelling that matches your version of English.
The Origin of Savour or Savor
The word has a long history. Savour/savor comes from Middle English and can be traced through Old French to the Latin word sapor, meaning “taste” or “flavor.” It is also related to the Latin verb sapere, meaning “to taste.”
The word first referred to taste and smell. Over time, its meaning expanded. It came to describe not only food and drink but also the enjoyment of experiences.
Today, you can savor a meal, but you can also savor a victory, savor a memory, or savor a quiet moment. Dictionaries define the verb in both sensory and broader emotional terms.
Why did the spelling become different?The difference is part of a wider British-American spelling pattern involving -our and -or.
British English generally kept forms such as colour, honour, and favour, while American English commonly adopted color, honor, and favor. The American spelling savor became predominant during the 19th century.
This means the missing u in savor is not a spelling mistake. It is a standard American English form.
British English vs American English Spelling
The main rule is easy:
British English usually uses -our. American English usually uses -or.
This pattern affects several common words.
| Meaning | British English | American English |
| Enjoy fully | savour | savor |
| Past tense | savoured | savored |
| Present participle | savouring | savoring |
| Flavorful adjective | savoury | savory |
| Color | colour | color |
| Honor | honour | honor |
| Favor | favour | favor |
| Flavor | flavour | flavor |
However, English spelling rules are not always perfectly regular. Some words keep the same spelling in both varieties, while others have special forms.
For savour/savor, the distinction is clear:
- UK: savour
- US: savor
Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand English generally follow British-style spelling for this word, although individual writers and publications may follow different style choices.
The important point is consistency. If your article uses British English, write savour. If it uses American English, write savor.
Which Spelling Should You Use?
Your audience should guide your choice.
If you write for Americans
Use savor.
Examples:
- Savor every bite.
- She savored the moment.
- The dish has a rich, smoky savor.
- Savor the experience.
This is the standard choice for American English.
If you write for British readers
Use savour.
Examples:
- Savour every bite.
- She savoured the moment.
- The dish has a rich, smoky savour.
- Savour the experience.
If you write for UK/Commonwealth audiences
Savour is usually the safer choice for British-style English. This includes many contexts in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
If you write for a global audience
Either spelling can work. The best approach is to choose one English style and use it consistently.
For example, if your website uses colour, favourite, and flavour, use savour.
If it uses color, favorite, and flavor, use savor.
For SEO, do not worry that choosing one spelling will make your content incorrect. Both are legitimate English forms. You can also mention the alternative naturally, especially when answering a spelling question.
Common Mistakes with Savour or Savor
1. Thinking one spelling is wrong
Wrong idea: “Savour is a misspelling of savor.”
Correction: Both are correct. The difference is mainly regional.
2. Mixing British and American spelling
A common problem is using both styles in the same document.
For example:
The restaurant has a great flavour, and you should savor every bite.
This mixes British flavour with American savor.
A consistent version would be:
The restaurant has a great flavour, and you should savour every bite.
Or:
The restaurant has a great flavor, and you should savor every bite.
3. Confusing savour/savor with “saviour” or “savior”
These words are different.
- savour = enjoy fully; taste or appreciate
- savor = enjoy fully; taste or appreciate
- saviour = a person who saves someone, mainly British spelling
- savior = a person who saves someone, mainly American spelling
4. Using the word only for food
You can savour or savor more than food.
Correct examples include:
- savour the moment
- savor the victory
- savour the memory
- savor the silence
- savour the experience
The word often suggests deep or deliberate enjoyment.
5. Changing spelling in related words
If you choose savor, remember:
- savor
- savored
- savoring
- savory
If you choose savour, use:
- savour
- savoured
- savouring
- savoury
Savour or Savor in Everyday Examples
The word appears in many types of writing.
In emails
British English:
I hope you have time to savour the success of the project.
American English:
I hope you have time to savor the success of the project.
Both sentences are correct.
In news writing
British style:
Fans will savour the team’s historic victory.
American style:
Fans will savor the team’s historic victory.
News organizations normally follow a house style, so writers should follow the publication’s chosen English variety.
In social media
A casual post might say:
Savour the little moments. ❤️
Or:
Savor the little moments. ❤️
The meaning does not change.
In food writing
British English:
Savour the rich flavor of freshly baked bread.
American English:
Savor the rich flavor of freshly baked bread.
If the rest of the article uses British spelling, however, flavour would normally be used too.
In formal writing
Both forms are acceptable when they match the chosen style.
The participants were encouraged to savour the experience.
or
The participants were encouraged to savor the experience.
Formal writing does not require one spelling over the other. Consistency and audience are more important.
Savour or Savor Google Trends & Usage Data
Search interest for “savour or savor” reflects a wider difference between British and American English.
The American spelling savor is strongly associated with the United States, while savour is associated with British English and is widely used in other English-speaking regions that follow British spelling conventions.
Usage research also shows that both forms are well established. One corpus-based study found substantially more occurrences of savor than savour in its dataset, while noting that the two forms represent American and British spelling respectively.
It is important not to treat Google Trends as a dictionary or a measure of grammatical correctness. Trends show search interest, not whether a spelling is right or wrong.
In practical terms:
| Region/context | More common spelling |
| United States | savor |
| United Kingdom | savour |
| Canada | savour generally |
| Australia | savour generally |
| New Zealand | savour generally |
| International websites | Either, depending on style |
| American business writing | savor |
| British business writing | savour |
Search behavior can also change depending on context. People may search for both forms when checking grammar, writing for an international audience, or comparing British and American English.
Savour vs Savor: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Savour | Savor |
| English variety | British English | American English |
| Meaning | Enjoy fully; taste; appreciate | Enjoy fully; taste; appreciate |
| Part of speech | Noun and verb | Noun and verb |
| Past tense | savoured | savored |
| -ing form | savouring | savoring |
| Related adjective | savoury | savory |
| Main spelling pattern | -our | -or |
| Common in the US | Less common | Yes |
| Common in the UK | Yes | Less common |
| Correct spelling? | Yes | Yes |
FAQs About Savour or Savor
Is “savour” or “savor” correct?
Both are correct. Savour is the usual British English spelling, while savor is the usual American English spelling.
Is “savour” British or American?
Savour is mainly the British English spelling. American English normally uses savor.
Is “savor” American English?
Yes. Savor is the standard American English form.
Do “savour” and “savor” mean the same thing?
Yes. They have the same basic meanings. They can describe enjoying food, a smell, or an experience.
How do you spell “savor” in British English?
In British English, it is usually spelled savour.
What is the past tense of savour?
The British form is savoured. The American form is savored.
What is the difference between “savour” and “savoury”?
Savour is a noun or verb. Savoury is an adjective. For example:
Savour the meal.
The meal has a savoury taste.
In American English, the corresponding forms are savor and savory.
Should I use “savour” or “savor” for SEO?
Use the form that matches your target audience. If you target American readers, savor is usually the natural choice. If you target British readers, use savour. You can mention both forms when your page answers the spelling question.
Conclusion
The answer to “savour or savor” is simple: both spellings are correct. The difference comes from regional English.
Use savour when writing in British English and savor when writing in American English. The two words have the same meaning. They can describe enjoying food, appreciating a smell, or taking pleasure in an experience.
The same spelling difference appears in related words. British English uses savoured, savouring, and savoury, while American English uses savored, savoring, and savory.
The most important rule is consistency. Do not switch between British and American spelling without a reason. Match the style to your readers, publication, school, workplace, or brand.
If you are writing for a global audience, either form is acceptable. When explaining the difference, it is helpful to mention both savour and savor so readers from different regions can understand the spelling.
In short, remember this easy rule: British English = savour; American English = savor. Neither form is wrong.
