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Discussion » Questions » Language » Why do Americans leave the "u" out of words like "colour"?
Estrella Starr

Why do Americans leave the "u" out of words like "colour"?

Posted - August 3, 2023
Tag : British and American English differences

Responses


  • 32708
    Because we don't need the "u" to pronounce the word correctly. This post was edited by my2cents at August 4, 2023 2:31 PM MDT
      August 3, 2023 2:39 PM MDT
    3

  • 165
    Prounce? Is that the American spelling of "pronounce"? Lol :)
      August 3, 2023 3:29 PM MDT
    3

  • 32708
    Lol....typo fixed. 
      August 3, 2023 4:46 PM MDT
    3

  • 16265
    UK - colour
    US - color

    UK - honour
    US - honor

    UK - labour
    US - labor

    UK - What are you doing?
    US - Getting rid of u.
      August 3, 2023 4:51 PM MDT
    7

  • 13260
    A better question is why do non-Americans leave the u in?
      August 3, 2023 5:34 PM MDT
    4

  • 16265
    Like many words which have been derived from French, the original word contained it. Old Fr Colleur, you Americans actually dropped the wrong letter.
      August 3, 2023 6:57 PM MDT
    1

  • 13260
    In your opinion.
      August 3, 2023 7:28 PM MDT
    1

  • 165
    Now, now! Let's not have any squabbling on my post. Lol :)
      August 4, 2023 12:46 PM MDT
    3

  • 52954

     

      Seue whaut youu staurted? Houpe youu’re hauppy nouw!


      ~

      August 4, 2023 2:33 PM MDT
    2

  • 9902
    Because we know how to spell. 
      August 3, 2023 6:52 PM MDT
    4

  • 2767
    LOL ... like "phonetic" instead of fonetic?  or "phone" instead of fone?
      August 4, 2023 8:11 AM MDT
    4

  • 165
    I think "ph" is from Greek, isn't it? I think they use that instead of "f".
      August 4, 2023 12:46 PM MDT
    4

  • 2767
    You're probably right.
      August 4, 2023 2:05 PM MDT
    3

  • 52954
    It’s all Greek to me! LOL!
    ~
      August 4, 2023 2:34 PM MDT
    4

  • 86
    It was all Francis Bacon's work :-)
      August 6, 2023 12:46 AM MDT
    1

  • 86
    It costs less to print. Didn't Mr Webster have something to do with dropping letters. Also, English English wasn't that consistent until well into the 19th Century. Apparently, even Shakespeare used 'color' and 'center' in his inane warblings.
      August 4, 2023 1:58 AM MDT
    5

  • 165
    Inane warblings? Shakespeare? You philistine.
      August 4, 2023 12:48 PM MDT
    3

  • 52954

     

      Weu dou? I’vue nevuer nouticed thaut befoue! Iu houpe youu’re 100% suure aubout whaut youu’re suaying, beucause theu implicatiouns aure quitue seveure. Gurrrrrrrrrr.
      ~

      August 4, 2023 2:31 PM MDT
    3

  • 165
    Loul :)
      August 5, 2023 2:51 PM MDT
    3