Difference Between Jewelry & Jewellery

Jewelry vs Jewellery

The distinction between the words jewelry and jewellery comes down solely to their spelling. In the context of costume jewelry or fashion jewelry, the term jewelry is used so frequently that it’s hard to ignore the difference between the two spellings. However, for those who are involved in the profession, the use of either spelling seems to make no difference. This article will help remove any confusion between the two terms.

Key Takeaways

• Jewellery is derived from the French word Jouel and refers to any object used for body adornment, including necklaces, rings, bracelets, and bangles.
• The spelling ‘jewellery’ is commonly used in Britain, Commonwealth countries, and other places with British cultural influence, while ‘jewelry’ is typically used in the American continent.
• The difference between the two spellings is due to American preference for shorter words, with no change in pronunciation or meaning.

What does Jewellery mean?

The word jewellery originates from jewel, which is derived from the French word Jouel. It refers to any kind of object used for body adornment, such as articles made from precious metals like platinum, gold, and silver. Jewellery includes a wide range of body adornments available in jewellery stores, such as necklaces, rings, bracelets, and bangles. Although jewellery is mainly for decoration, it also serves as a status symbol, as it strongly conveys the wealth of the individual wearing the ornaments.

The spelling of the word follows the English grammar rule of doubling the final consonant when a suffix beginning with a vowel is added. Thus, when the suffix -ery is added to the word jewel, the consonant is doubled and the word becomes jewellery. This spelling is common in Britain, Commonwealth countries, and other places with British cultural influence. Due to the confusion among the general public, advertisers often include both jewelry and jewellery in their content to ensure their website is found by those searching for ornaments.

What does Jewelry mean?

The word jewelry also comes from the French word Jouel and refers to objects used for body adornment. However, as with words like color and flavor, Americans tend to shorten the word if they feel that the pronunciation does not change by omitting a letter. This is why they have chosen to delete the extra “l” and “e” from the word jewellery and use the spelling jewelry instead.

What is the difference between Jewelry and Jewellery?

• Meaning: Both jewelry and jewellery refer to the same object – an ornament.
• Root: The root of both words, jewelry and jewellery, is jewel, which comes from the French word joule.
• Place of Usage: Jewellery is a spelling common in Britain and all Commonwealth countries, while jewelry is used more in the American continent.
• Grammar and Spelling: Jewellery follows the rule of doubling the last letter of a word if it is a consonant when it is suffixed with a root that begins with a vowel, while Americans are more comfortable with the shortened version by omitting a letter, resulting in no change in pronunciation.

In conclusion, there is no difference in meaning between the two words, jewelry and jewellery. The difference lies only in the spellings, as British and American English prefer different spellings. British English uses the word jewellery, while American English uses the word jewelry. This reflects the American preference for shorter words. Other than that, there is no difference between these two words.