Spelling Australian Style is a funny and informative subject of Aussie English. It looks at Aussie slang from multiple perspectives, including history and origins of the words, how the words are used in everyday speech, formal writing styles, different social classes and cultures, and linguistic adaptation.
We’ve put together a sample of English words that are spelled differently by different countries. Australian and British English are generally identical in the way they spell words.
These lists are not exact because language is always changing. Although an Australian word is shown with the British spelling, Australians may use its American version depending on personal preference or how they were taught in school. Confusing isn’t it?!
The part of an Australian word that differs from the American version is in red.
| Australian & British | American | Australian & British | American | Australian & British | American |
| ageing aeroplane aerofoil aluminium arbour ardour armour behaviour belabour calibre centre cheque chequer clamour colour defence deflexion dolour draught enamour endeavour favour fervour fibre flavour fount furore | aging airplane airfoil aluminum arbor ardor armor behavior belabor caliber center check checker clamor color defense deflection dolor draft enamor endeavor favor fervor fiber flavor font furor | gram harbour honour humour inflexion jemmy kerb labour licence liquorice litre lustre manoeuvre maths medallist metre millilitre millimetre misdemeanour mitre mould moulder moulding mouldy moult | gramme harbor honor humor inflection jimmy curb labor license licorice liter luster maneuver math medalist meter milliliter millimeter misdemeanor miter mold molder molding moldy molt | neighbour nitre odour offence paralyse parlour pedlar potter practise pretence programme pyjama rancour reflexion rumour sabre sceptre sepulchre succour tyre vapour vigour vocalise whirr | neighbor niter odor offense paralyze parlor peddler putter practice pretense program pajama rancor reflection rumor saber scepter sepulcher succor tire vapor vigor vocalize whir |
