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


  • 34246
    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

  • 34246
    Lol....typo fixed. 
      August 3, 2023 4:46 PM MDT
    3

  • 16763
    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

  • 13277
    A better question is why do non-Americans leave the u in?
      August 3, 2023 5:34 PM MDT
    4

  • 16763
    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

  • 13277
    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

  • 53503

     

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


      ~

      August 4, 2023 2:33 PM MDT
    2

  • 10993
    Because we know how to spell. 
      August 3, 2023 6:52 PM MDT
    4

  • 3699
    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

  • 3699
    You're probably right.
      August 4, 2023 2:05 PM MDT
    3

  • 53503
    It’s all Greek to me! LOL!
    ~
      August 4, 2023 2:34 PM MDT
    4

  • 112
    It was all Francis Bacon's work :-)
      August 6, 2023 12:46 AM MDT
    1

  • 112
    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

  • 53503

     

      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