The Neighbor and the Neighbour are two of the most important words in English. They are used to describe someone who lives or works near you, or someone that you live or work with. In terms of grammar, they are also used as an adjective and a noun. But why are there two different terms, “Neighbor” and “Neighbour”?
In this article, we will discuss the differences between Neighbor and Neighbour in detail. We will look at their meanings, what they are used for, how they are used in English grammar, why they are different, and how they are related to each other. So let’s begin.
Summary Table
| Neighbor: | Neighbour: |
| When you use the word “neighbour”, you are referring to someone who lives close to you or has close contact and relationship with you, like friends. | The word “neighbour” can be used with anyone, as long as it describes someone who lives close to them. |
| Is an American English word that is mainly used in the United States | Is a British English word used more often in Canada and Britain |
| In terms of pronunciation, “neighbor” sounds like “n-eh-brr” | In terms of pronunciation, “neighbor” sounds like “n-eh-bhr” |
Definitions:
Before we talk about the differences between “neighbor” and “neighbour”, let’s first define what we mean by “neighbor” and “neighbour.” To do this, we need to take a look back at the definitions and meanings of these two words, what they are in terms of parts of speech, and how they are used in English grammar.
What is “neighbor”?
First, let’s look at the definition of “neighbor.” The word “neighbor” originated from the Old English word “néah”, which means “near” or “close”.
The Old English word “néah” is still used in some countries.
A “neighbor” is a person who lives close to you, usually in the same neighborhood or city. For example: “your next door neighbor,” “the neighbor I share a building with,” “the neighbor who just moved in next door.” In the English language, “neighbor” is a noun or an adjective. It means “close to you.”
What is “neighbour”?
Now, let’s look at the definition of “neighbour.” A “neighbour” is also a person who lives near you, usually in the same neighborhood or city. The word “neighbour” is also a noun or an adjective, depending on how it is used. So, in a sense, “neighbor” and “neighbour” are the same words with the same meaning. But there is a slight difference between them.
“Neighbour” is used to refer to someone who lives near you, and “neighbor” is used to refer to someone who lives in the same neighborhood or city as you. “Neighbor” is also the common word used in American English. But in British English, the word “neighbour” is more common.
Who can be considered a “neighbor” or a “neighbour”?
As mentioned above, “neighbor” is used to refer to someone who lives in the same neighborhood or city as you. It is not used to refer to people from another country, because we usually use the word “foreigner.” The distance between you and your neighbor is a factor that makes them “neighbors.” You need to live a few blocks away from your neighbor to be considered his/her “neighbor.” If you live too far away from your neighbor, you can’t be considered his/her “neighbor” since you don’t live in the same neighborhood or city.
Neighbor Vs. Neighbour:
As you may know, there are several words that have a similar meaning. However, the words with similar meanings and similar base words are usually written interchangeably. In the case of “neighbor” and “neighbour”, both are used to describe someone who lives close to you. Now, let’s take a look at the differences between the two words.
- The parts of speech
While essentially the same, neighbor is usually a noun, while neighbour is an adjective. So when you use the word “neighbour”, you are referring to someone who lives close to you or has close contact and relationship with you, like friends. The word “neighbour” can be used with anyone, as long as it describes someone who lives close to them.
- The usage
Neighbor is an American English word. Neighbour is an English word that originated in the United Kingdom. So, while both words are used to describe someone who lives close to you, the word “neighbour” is mainly used in the United States. On the other hand, “neighbour” is used more often in Canada and Britain. The word “neighbour” is also used in many other countries that use English as their official language, but “neighbor” is used more in rural areas.
- The phonetic difference
Neighbor and neighbour both sound similar. However, when you pronounce the word “neighbour”, you are pronouncing it with a different vowel sound than when you pronounce the word “neighbor”. The difference in pronunciation can be noticed in the phonetic spelling of the words.
“Neighbor” sounds like “n-eh-brr”, while “neighbour” sounds like “n-eh-bhr”.
- When to use neighbor and when to use neighbour
While neighbor is used to describe someone who lives close to you, it can also be used as a synonym for the word “friend”. You can use it both in positive and negative sentences. For example, “I have no friends.
” And “I have no neighbors.” It can also be used in a question to describe something that belongs to someone. For example, “Where is your neighbor’s house?”
Neighbour, on the other hand, is an adjective that describes someone who lives close to you, as mentioned above. You can use it to describe your neighbor as a noun or pronoun. For example, “My neighbor’s dog barks all night.” Or “My neighbour does not like dogs.”
