US and UK English
gray vs grey
Regional usage, spelling, and examples
Gray is the usual American spelling and grey is the usual British spelling. They have the same meanings and pronunciation.
Regional decision guide
Choose by region, but preserve names
Ordinary color usage follows a simple regional preference. Fixed names and trademarks are exceptions.
United States
gray
American English
Gray is the standard spelling in most American edited text.
The sky turned gray before the storm.
United Kingdom and many Commonwealth varieties
grey
British English
Grey is the standard spelling in most British edited text.
The sky turned grey before the storm.
Everywhere
official spelling
Names and fixed terms
Do not respell a surname, brand, title, breed, or established term to match your regional style.
She ordered Earl Grey tea.
Direct answer
What is the difference?
The regional preference applies when the word names the color, describes something colorless, or functions as a verb. Official names keep their established spelling regardless of region: Earl Grey tea, the greyhound dog breed, and names such as Gray or Grey should not be changed to match a style convention.
Optional listening · American English
Hear the shared pronunciation
These terms share a standard pronunciation. Use the recordings to learn the sound, then use meaning and context to choose the spelling.
Word 1
gray
adjective, noun, or verb
The usual American spelling for the color between black and white.
US pronunciation
/ɡreɪ/
UK IPA
/ɡreɪ/
Hear two natural voices
Word 2
grey
adjective, noun, or verb
The usual British spelling for the color between black and white.
US pronunciation
/ɡreɪ/
UK IPA
/ɡreɪ/
Hear two natural voices
Listen in context
6 example sentences
Context makes meaning, grammar, and natural rhythm easier to understand. Every sentence has its own playback.
Examples with
gray
- She wore a gray wool coat.
- The clouds faded from white to gray.
- His hair began to gray in his thirties.
Examples with
grey
- He chose a grey suit for the ceremony.
- The sea looked dark grey at dawn.
- A grey mist covered the hills.