humourous

Everyday

1. «Humourous» is a common misspelling of «humorous», which means funny or meant to make people laugh. tree →
2. Some writers use «humourous» by mistake because the UK noun is «humour» with a «u». tree →

In the lessons

In spelling lessons it is a classic trap: in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland the noun is «humour», but the adjective drops the «u» and is «humorous» everywhere, also in the USA. The meaning, when used, is just «funny». Phrases you will see are really «a humorous story», «humorous poem».

Examples

• The correct spelling is «humorous», not «humourous». tree →
• She wrote a humorous poem about her cat. tree →
• My teacher circled «humourous» in red and wrote «humorous». tree →
• British English has «humour», but still «humorous». tree →
• The film was humorous and kind. tree →
• A humorous speech makes the audience laugh. tree →

Note

Not standard English: use «humorous» (UK, USA, Canada, Australia all agree). Same pattern: «vigour» but «vigorous», «glamour» but «glamorous», «labour» but «laborious». A spell checker will mark «humourous» as wrong.