Favourite vs Pet

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Favourite

Top 2,000 (common) A1 adjective

Pet

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 noun

Most common: Pet

	Favourite	Pet
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈfeɪvərɪt/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈfeɪvərɪt/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/pet/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/pet/"]/
Meaning	The thing you like the most.	An animal kept for companionship.
Example	It's one of my favourite movies.	I have a pet dog named Rufus.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	A1	A2
Part of speech	adjective	noun
Collocations	favourite food, favourite color, favourite movie, favourite song, favourite place	domestic, family, house, have, keep, own, shop, store, cat
Antonyms	least liked, unpopular	wild animal, stray
Common mistakes	Confused with 'favouritism', which means giving unfair advantage., Incorrect spelling, such as 'favorit' or 'favourite's'., 'Favourite' doesn't work as a verb; it's only a noun/adjective.	Confused with 'pest', thinking they are the same., Using 'pet' as a verb incorrectly outside of its appropriate context., Incorrectly pluralizing with 'pets' when talking about a single pet.
Usage notes	Use 'favourite' in situations where you talk about something you really like, such as food, books, or activities. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts. In some regions (like the US), 'favorite' is more commonly used.	Use 'pet' to refer to domestic animals. It's neutral and widely used in conversation. Avoid using it in formal writing where more specific terms might be required.

See it in real clips

My favourite book.

Sherlock › S1 E1

and we found it in the hands of our favourite psychopath.

Top Gear › S1 E1

And this is my favourite bit. Under famous owners.

My favourite book.

Sherlock › S1 E1

and we found it in the hands of our favourite psychopath.

Favourite

Peter Ryan.

Pet

Frequently asked questions: Favourite vs Pet

What's the difference between Favourite and Pet?

Favourite: The thing you like the most. Pet: An animal kept for companionship.

Which is more common: Favourite and Pet?

Pet is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Favourite and Pet?

Pet is the highest level, at A2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Favourite and Pet the same CEFR level?

Favourite: A1, Pet: A2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Favourite and Pet?

Favourite: adjective, Pet: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Favourite: It's one of my favourite movies. Pet: I have a pet dog named Rufus.

Can I use Favourite and Pet interchangeably?

Not always. Favourite and Pet are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.