Yogurt or Yoghurt: Which Spelling Is Correct?

Yogurt and yoghurt are both correct spellings of the same word. The difference is mainly regional.

• Yogurt is the more common spelling in American English.
• Yoghurt is more common in British English, although yogurt is also widely used in the UK.

Both words refer to the same fermented dairy food.

Quick Answer

Use yogurt when writing for an American audience.

Use yoghurt if you prefer the traditional British spelling or are following a British publication’s style guide.

Neither spelling is a mistake.

What Does Yogurt Mean?

Yogurt is a food made by fermenting milk with beneficial bacteria. It usually has a thick, creamy texture and a slightly sour taste.

It may be eaten plain or flavored with ingredients such as fruit, honey, vanilla, or sugar.

Examples:

• I ate a bowl of yogurt for breakfast.
• She added berries and granola to her yogurt.
• Greek yogurt is usually thicker than regular yogurt.
• This recipe calls for one cup of plain yogurt.

The word can describe many varieties, including:

• Greek yogurt
• frozen yogurt
• natural yogurt
• low-fat yogurt
• dairy-free yogurt
• flavored yogurt

The spelling does not change the meaning.

Yogurt or Yoghurt: What Is the Difference?

The only real difference is spelling preference.

Spelling	Most Common Use
Yogurt	American English
Yoghurt	British English
Yogurt	Increasingly common internationally

In the United States, yogurt is the standard spelling and is the form most readers expect.

In the United Kingdom, yoghurt has traditionally been common. However, many British brands, supermarkets, and publications also use yogurt.

This means that yogurt is now accepted in both American and British English, while yoghurt may appear more noticeably British.

Is Yogurt the American Spelling?

Yes. Yogurt is the standard American spelling.

Examples:

• The store sells several kinds of Greek yogurt.
• He prefers plain yogurt without added sugar.
• Mix the yogurt with fresh fruit.

American dictionaries, food labels, recipes, and advertisements overwhelmingly use yogurt.

Writers using American English should normally choose this spelling.

Is Yoghurt the British Spelling?

Yoghurt is a traditional British spelling.

Examples:

• She bought a pot of strawberry yoghurt.
• Natural yoghurt can be used in sauces.
• Add two spoonfuls of yoghurt to the mixture.

However, British English is less strict about this word than it is about some other spelling differences.

For example, pairs such as colour/color and centre/center have clearer regional divisions. With yogurt/yoghurt, both spellings can be found in British usage.

Therefore, a British writer may use either form, provided the spelling remains consistent.

Which Spelling Is More Common?

Yogurt is more common worldwide.

It is the dominant spelling in American English and is also frequently used in Canada, Australia, Britain, and international food marketing.

The shorter spelling may be preferred because it is simpler and matches the word’s usual pronunciation more closely.

Although yoghurt remains correct, it is less common globally.

For general online writing, yogurt is usually the safest choice because it is familiar to the widest audience.

Why Is There an “H” in Yoghurt?

The extra h in yoghurt comes from older attempts to represent the word’s original pronunciation and spelling.

English borrowed the word from Turkish. As the word entered different European languages, several spellings developed.

Over time, English speakers used forms such as:

• yoghurt
• yogurt
• yoghourt

The spelling yogurt eventually became standard in American English, while yoghurt remained common in Britain.

The h does not create a major difference in pronunciation. Most English speakers pronounce yogurt and yoghurt in the same way.

How Do You Pronounce Yogurt and Yoghurt?

Both spellings are normally pronounced identically.

A common pronunciation is:

YOH-gurt

The first syllable sounds similar to yo, and the second syllable sounds like gurt.

The extra h in yoghurt is not separately pronounced.

Therefore, you cannot usually tell which spelling someone prefers by listening to the word.

Yogurt or Yoghurt in a Sentence

Both versions are grammatically correct.

Yogurt examples

• I packed a container of yogurt in my lunch.
• Plain yogurt can replace sour cream in some recipes.
• She makes smoothies with fruit and yogurt.
• The children had vanilla yogurt after dinner.

Yoghurt examples

• He served the curry with natural yoghurt.
• The café offers fruit and yoghurt for breakfast.
• Stir the cucumber into the yoghurt.
• She prefers thick Greek yoghurt.

The sentences mean exactly the same thing.

Should You Capitalize Yogurt?

No. Yogurt is normally a common noun and does not need a capital letter.

Correct:

• I bought some yogurt.
• Greek yogurt contains protein.
• She likes strawberry yoghurt.

Incorrect:

• I bought some Yogurt.
• She likes Strawberry Yoghurt.

Capitalize the word only when it appears at the beginning of a sentence or as part of a brand or product name.

What Is the Plural of Yogurt?

The plural can be yogurts or yoghurts, depending on the spelling you use.

The plural is most common when referring to different types, flavors, or individual containers.

Examples:

• The store offers several flavored yogurts.
• We bought three small yoghurts for lunch.
• Plant-based yogurts are becoming more common.

When referring to yogurt as a general food substance, the word is often uncountable.

Example:

• We need more yogurt.

Not:

• We need more yogurts.

However, yogurts is correct when talking about varieties or separate servings.

Common Misspellings

Some common incorrect spellings include:

• yougurt
• yogert
• yogart
• youghurt
• yogourt

The two standard English spellings are:

• yogurt
• yoghurt

The form yogourt may also appear in Canadian French or on Canadian product labels, but it is not the usual spelling in American English.

How to Remember Yogurt or Yoghurt

A simple way to remember the regional difference is:

America usually keeps it shorter: yogurt.

The American spelling removes the silent h, leaving the simpler form:

yogurt

To remember the British spelling, connect the extra h with the word British:

British yoghurt has an extra h.

You can also remember that the pronunciation is the same, so the spelling choice depends on your audience rather than the sound.

Should You Use Yogurt or Yoghurt in Formal Writing?

Both spellings are suitable for formal writing.

The important thing is to follow the spelling system used in the rest of the document.

Use yogurt in American English:

• flavored yogurt
• Greek yogurt
• yogurt production

Use yoghurt if it matches your British style guide:

• natural yoghurt
• Greek yoghurt
• yoghurt production

Avoid switching between the two spellings in the same article unless you are specifically discussing the spelling difference.

Consistency makes the writing look more polished and professional.

Final Answer

Yogurt and yoghurt are both correct.

Yogurt is the standard American spelling and the more common form internationally. Yoghurt is a traditional British spelling that is still widely accepted.

For most audiences, yogurt is the simplest and safest choice. If you use British English, either spelling may be acceptable, but you should remain consistent throughout your writing.