Labor and labour both function as a verb as well as a noun. They have the same meaning but differ in spelling. The usage of the term ‘labor’ depends on whether you write in British English or US English. Both terms “labor” and “labour” refer to employment. While they sound identical, a single letter “u” makes all the difference depending on your origins. ‘Labor’ is spelled in American English, whereas ‘labour’ is the British and Australian words. This blog will help you to understand the difference between labor and labour. Let’s explore this more in detail.
- In British and Australian English: The term “labour” with added ‘u’ is standard.
- In American English: The term “labor” without ‘u’ is correct.
What is the Difference Between Labor and Labour
The main difference between labor and labour lies in dialects. American English, which was separated from British English, used to prefer simpler dialects. Their preference was dropping the unnecessary letters that manifested in the words. This included “color” versus “color,” “favor” versus “favour,” and, of course, “labor” versus “labour.”
While talking about British English and other countries like Australia, they prefer conventional spellings of words with additional ‘u’ in words like “labour.” Both words have the same meanings but different spellings. Some Examples of Labor and Labour are highlighted as
| Labor | Labour |
| Labors should finish their renovation in a week. | Labours should finish their renovation in a week. |
| Shomela knew she was in the labor room when the contractions began to speed up. | Shomela knew she was in the labour room when the contractions began to speed up. |
| Hadi and Ahmar labored to fix the broken wall. | Hadi and Ahmar laboured to fix the broken wall with great humour. |
| Stop laboring the point! You’re driving me crazy! | Stop labouring the point! You’re driving me crazy! |
What is Labourer and Laborer?
“Laborer” and “labourer” are similar to ‘labor’ and ‘labour’. It refers to the person who is performing any physical task like construction, etc. “Labourer” with an additional ‘u’ is used in British and Australian English spelling, while ‘Laborer’ without ‘e’ is used in American English. It is important to consider one spelling and use it consistently throughout the document.
Examples of Laborer or labourer in a sentence:
| Laborer | Labourer |
| Companies can barely find young laborers in an aging society. | Companies can barely find young labourers in an aging society. |
| Laborers are hard workers and they deserve sufficient pay. | Labourers are hard workers and they deserve sufficient pay. |
| They thanked every laborer for their hard work. | They honored the labourers for their efforts. |
Tips to Remember the Difference
Look at these useful tips to understand the difference between the confusing words “Labor” and “Labour.” Labor is used in American English, while “labour” is used in the UK and Australia.
- ‘Labour’ and the UK both contain the letter ‘u’.
- ‘Labour’ is used in UK English (and also in other regions that use British English conventions, like Canada and Australia).
Like ‘Labor,’ think of other American spellings that use ‘or,’ like ‘color’ or ‘favor.’
Frequently Asked Questions
As in ‘labour,’ the additional ‘u’ represents the traditional language of the UK and Australia. So, “labour” is used in the UK. This spelling is consistent with their conventions and refers to work and employment.
Labor and labour are two spellings of the same noun. The spelling depends on the type of English. In American English, “Labor Day” is correct. In British English, “Labour Day” is standard.
The term work means any productive effort or activity. The work can be physical and mental to achieve certain outcomes. It may involve the strength required to reach specific goals. However, “labor” refers to physical work related to task completion, employment, or manual context.
Both terms labor economics and labour economics are correct. The term labour economics is used in both the British and Australian versions of the English language. However, the phrase ‘labor economics’ is more familiar in the United States of America and other English-speaking countries. The use of words depends on your region.
