This page in your language

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

B1 Noun (plural) #19 most common 11 min read

favorites

Top 19

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips favorites in 30 Seconds

Explanation favorites in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'favorites' is a very useful word for talking about simple things you like. It is the plural of 'favorite.' You use it when you want to talk about more than one thing that is your 'best' or 'top' choice. For example, if you like red and blue colors the most, you can say, 'Red and blue are my favorites.' It is a friendly word used to share information about yourself with others. You will often hear it when people talk about food, colors, animals, or hobbies. It is important to remember that 'favorites' is a noun here, so you don't need to say another word after it. Just 'These are my favorites' is enough. It helps you make simple sentences to describe your personality.

At the A2 level, you start using 'favorites' to describe your daily life and routines. You might talk about your 'favorites' among the books you have read or the places you visit. It is common to use the phrase 'one of my favorites' at this level. This means you have a group of things you like very much, and you are talking about just one of them. For example, 'Pizza is one of my favorites.' You also begin to see 'favorites' in technology, like the 'favorites' list on a phone or a computer browser. This level focuses on using the word to categorize your world and share more detailed preferences with friends and family.

At the B1 level, you use 'favorites' to express more complex opinions and engage in deeper conversations. You can explain *why* certain things are your favorites, using the word to anchor your arguments. You might also encounter the idiomatic expression 'playing favorites,' which is important for understanding social and workplace dynamics. At this level, you should be careful with the grammar, ensuring you don't use 'favorites' as an adjective (e.g., avoiding 'favorites movies'). You are expected to use the word fluently in discussions about culture, such as 'Who are the favorites to win the Oscars this year?' where the word refers to predicted winners rather than personal likes.

At the B2 level, 'favorites' is used in more nuanced contexts, such as analyzing trends or discussing social fairness. You understand that 'favorites' can refer to the 'expected winners' in a competition, and you can use this in a variety of topics from sports to politics. You are also aware of the negative connotations of 'playing favorites' in a professional setting and can discuss the implications of bias. Your vocabulary is broad enough to use synonyms like 'preferences' or 'selections' when 'favorites' feels too informal. You can also handle the possessive forms and complex sentence structures involving the word without making common learner errors.

At the C1 level, you recognize the subtle emotional and psychological weight the word 'favorites' carries. You can use it in literary or academic discussions to describe a person's 'intellectual favorites' or the 'critics' favorites.' You are comfortable with the word's history and its evolution from royal courts to digital bookmarks. You can use the word with precision, distinguishing between a 'favorite' (an object of affection) and a 'front-runner' (a likely winner). Your usage is sophisticated, and you can employ the word in stylistic ways to create emphasis or evoke nostalgia in your writing and speaking.

At the C2 level, your mastery of 'favorites' is complete. You can use the word in highly idiomatic or metaphorical ways. You might discuss the 'favorites of fortune' or use the word to critique the subjective nature of human taste. You are aware of the subtle differences between 'favorites' and its synonyms in every possible context, from legal bias to aesthetic theory. You can effortlessly switch between the noun and adjective forms and understand the cultural impact of 'favoritism' in various societies. The word is no longer just a vocabulary item but a tool for nuanced expression of human values and societal structures.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

favorites in 30 Seconds

Favorites refers to the people or things liked best among others.
It is the plural noun form, distinct from the adjective 'favorite'.
In sports, it means the competitors most likely to win.
In technology, it refers to saved or bookmarked items for quick access.

The term favorites functions as a plural noun that describes the specific people, objects, or concepts that an individual prefers above all others in a particular category. It is the plural form of the noun 'favorite.' When you speak of your favorites, you are identifying a select group of items that hold a special place in your estimation, often due to the joy, comfort, or utility they provide. This word is deeply personal; what qualifies as a favorite for one person may be entirely different for another, making it a cornerstone of discussions regarding personal taste and identity.

Core Concept: The act of choosing favorites is a psychological shortcut that helps humans manage the overwhelming number of choices available in modern life. By designating certain things as favorites, we create a 'shortlist' of reliable sources of happiness.

In social contexts, sharing your favorites is a primary way to build rapport. When meeting someone new, asking about their favorites—whether in music, film, or travel destinations—serves as an icebreaker that reveals their personality and values.

Among all the paintings in the gallery, these three are definitely my favorites because of their vibrant use of color.

Beyond personal preference, the word has a significant technical application in the digital age. On web browsers and social media platforms, 'favorites' refers to a feature that allows users to bookmark or 'like' specific content for easy retrieval later. This has transformed the word from a purely emotional descriptor into a functional tool for data organization. Historically, the concept of a 'favorite' was often associated with royal courts, where a 'favorite' was a person particularly well-liked by a monarch, often gaining significant political influence as a result. Today, while the political nuance has faded, the sense of 'special status' remains.

Usage in Sports: In the world of sports and betting, favorites are the teams or athletes expected to win a competition. This usage is slightly different as it is based on probability and performance rather than personal affection.

The bookie listed the local team as the favorites to win the championship this year.

Emotional Resonance: Favorites often evoke nostalgia. A person's favorites from childhood, like a specific toy or cartoon, often carry a weight of memory that new preferences cannot match.

I keep a list of my favorites on my phone so I never forget which wines I enjoyed at the tasting.

The teacher tried not to show favorites when grading the essays, ensuring everyone was treated fairly.

These recipes are old family favorites that have been passed down through four generations.

To summarize, favorites are the highlights of our experiences, the chosen few that stand out from the crowd, whether they are people we love, items we use, or teams we support.

Using the word favorites correctly requires an understanding of its role as a plural noun. It is most commonly used to refer to a group of things that are liked best. For instance, you might say, 'Of all the movies I've seen this year, these three are my favorites.' Here, the word acts as a predicate nominative, identifying the subject 'these three.' It is important to distinguish this from the adjective form 'favorite,' which modifies a noun, as in 'my favorite movies.'

Grammatical Placement: Favorites usually appears after a linking verb like 'are' or 'were,' or as the object of a preposition, such as 'among my favorites.'

A common sentence pattern involves the phrase 'one of my favorites.' Even though 'one' is singular, the word 'favorites' must remain plural because you are selecting one item from a larger group of preferred things.

That pizza place is one of my favorites in the entire city.

Another frequent usage is in the context of 'playing favorites.' This idiomatic expression means to treat one person or group better than others in an unfair way. It is often used in professional or educational settings to criticize a lack of impartiality.

The manager was accused of playing favorites when he promoted his best friend over more qualified candidates.

Possessive Forms: You can use possessive pronouns before the word to indicate whose preferences are being discussed: 'his favorites,' 'their favorites,' 'our favorites.'

We compared our favorites from the menu and realized we both loved the spicy tuna roll.

In the plural, the word can also refer to the top-seeded competitors in a tournament. 'The favorites were all knocked out in the first round.' This implies that the teams everyone expected to win did not succeed.

Digital Contexts: In software, 'favorites' is often a category or a folder. 'Check your favorites for the link I sent you last week.'

I added the website to my favorites so I could find it again easily.

The critics' favorites are rarely the same as the box office hits.

She listed her favorites in order of preference, starting with the chocolate cake.

Are these your favorites, or should I keep looking for something else?

By mastering these patterns, you can express preferences clearly and naturally in both spoken and written English.

The word favorites is ubiquitous in daily life, appearing in diverse environments from casual kitchen conversations to high-stakes sports broadcasting. In the realm of social media and the internet, you will encounter it constantly. Platforms like Twitter (now X) previously used a 'favorite' button (a star icon) to allow users to save posts. Although many have switched to 'likes' (a heart icon), the terminology of 'favoriting' something or checking your 'favorites' list remains common in digital literacy.

Online Content: YouTubers and influencers often create 'Monthly Favorites' videos, where they showcase the products, books, or music they enjoyed most during the previous month. This has become a specific genre of content creation.

In the world of sports, announcers use 'favorites' to describe the teams that the betting markets or experts believe are most likely to win. During the Olympics or the World Cup, you'll hear phrases like 'The heavy favorites are the defending champions.' This usage is purely analytical and lacks the personal affection usually associated with the word.

The sports commentator noted that the favorites struggled in the rainy conditions, leading to an unexpected upset.

In domestic settings, parents and children often discuss their favorites. A child might ask, 'Who are your favorites in this cartoon?' or a parent might say, 'I've cooked all your favorites for your birthday dinner.' This reinforces the word's connection to care and personal knowledge of others.

Workplace Dynamics: In professional environments, the word is often heard in a negative context regarding 'playing favorites.' Employees might whisper about a boss who gives the best assignments to a few 'favorites,' implying unfairness.

There was a lot of gossip in the office about the CEO having clear favorites among the junior staff.

You will also hear the word in retail and marketing. Online stores often have a 'Customer Favorites' section, which uses the collective preferences of many shoppers to suggest popular items to new visitors. This leverages social proof to drive sales.

Entertainment Industry: Award shows like the 'People's Choice Awards' are essentially a celebration of the public's favorites across movies, TV, and music.

The band played all their old favorites, and the crowd sang along to every word.

I've added several new podcasts to my favorites list this week.

It's hard to pick favorites when the quality of the work is this high across the board.

Whether in a digital interface or a heartfelt conversation, 'favorites' is the go-to word for highlighting the best of the best.

Despite its relative simplicity, the word favorites is often misused by learners, primarily due to confusion between its noun and adjective forms. The most frequent error is using the plural noun 'favorites' as an adjective. For example, a learner might say, 'These are my favorites books.' In English, adjectives do not take a plural form even if the noun they modify is plural. The correct phrasing is 'These are my favorite books.' Conversely, if you use it as a noun, you don't need the word 'books' at all: 'These are my favorites.'

Spelling Confusion: Learners often mix up 'favorites' (US) and 'favourites' (UK). While both are correct, it is best to be consistent within a single document or conversation. Mixing them can look like a spelling error rather than a regional choice.

Another mistake involves the phrase 'one of my favorites.' Many learners mistakenly say 'one of my favorite,' forgetting the 's.' The logic here is that you are picking one item out of a group of multiple things you like, so the group itself must be plural.

Incorrect: He is one of my favorite.
Correct: He is one of my favorites.

There is also a subtle mistake regarding the context of 'playing favorites.' Some learners use this to mean 'choosing what I like best,' but it actually has a negative connotation of being unfair or biased. If you want to say you are selecting your preferred items, use 'choosing my favorites' instead.

Overuse: Using 'favorites' for everything can make your English sound repetitive. Try to vary your vocabulary with words like 'preferences,' 'picks,' or 'top choices' when appropriate.

Mistake: I have many favorites foods.
Correction: I have many favorite foods (adj) OR These foods are my favorites (noun).

Subject-Verb Agreement: Because 'favorites' is plural, it requires a plural verb. 'My favorites is...' is incorrect; it must be 'My favorites are...'

The teacher's favorites were always the students who sat in the front row.

Among the candidates, there are no clear favorites for the position yet.

I'm trying to narrow down my favorites to just two or three options.

Avoiding these common pitfalls will make your usage of 'favorites' sound much more like a native speaker.

While favorites is a versatile and common word, English offers several alternatives that can add nuance or a different level of formality to your speech. Understanding these synonyms helps you choose the right word for the right context.

Preferences: This is a more formal alternative. While 'favorites' implies a strong emotional bond, 'preferences' suggests a choice made between options. 'What are your dietary preferences?' sounds more professional than 'What are your favorites foods?'

Picks: This is an informal, punchy alternative often used in media. 'Our top picks for the summer' is a common headline. It implies a selection process has taken place.

The editor shared her top picks from the new fashion collection.

Darlings: This is a more literary or dramatic term. It is often used in the phrase 'critics' darlings' to describe movies or books that reviewers love but the general public might not know.

Independent films are often the darlings of the film festival circuit.

Choices: A neutral term. 'These were my choices' is less emotional than 'These were my favorites,' focusing on the action of selecting rather than the feeling of liking.

The team had to narrow down their selections before the final presentation.

Among the many options, these were the clear front-runners for the award.

The chef's specialties are essentially the favorites of the house.

By using these alternatives, you can avoid repetition and express your preferences with greater precision.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Child friendly

Slang

Fun Fact

In the 16th and 17th centuries, a 'favorite' was a specific political position in royal courts, often held by someone who had the monarch's ear and could influence national policy.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˈfeɪ.vər.ɪts/

US /ˈfeɪ.vər.ɪts/

First syllable: FAY-vor-ites

Rhymes With

weights states plates dates gates rates traits mates

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'o' too clearly like 'fay-VOR-ites'.
Missing the 's' at the end in plural contexts.
Confusing the 'v' sound with a 'b' sound in some languages.
Over-emphasizing the final 'its' sound.
Merging the first two syllables into 'fav-rites'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize in most texts due to common usage.

Writing 3/5

Learners often confuse the noun and adjective forms.

Speaking 2/5

Very common in daily conversation and easy to pronounce.

Listening 2/5

Clear sound, though the middle 'o' can be quiet.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

like best choose good people

Learn Next

preference bias partiality selection priority

Advanced

nepotism predilection propensity inclination precedent

Grammar to Know

Plural Noun Agreement

My favorites ARE (not is) these books.

Adjective vs Noun

My favorite (adj) books vs These are my favorites (noun).

One of + Plural

One of my favorites (always plural).

Possessive Adjectives

Their favorites, our favorites, his favorites.

Zero Article in Generalizations

Favorites can change over time.

Examples by Level

Apples and bananas are my favorites.

Apple ve muz benim favorilerimdir.

Subject is plural, so 'favorites' is plural.

These toys are my favorites.

Bu oyuncaklar benim favorilerim.

Demonstrative 'these' matches the plural 'favorites'.

What are your favorites?

Senin favorilerin neler?

Question form using 'are' for plural.

Dogs and cats are my favorites.

Köpekler ve kediler benim favorilerim.

Compound subject requires plural 'favorites'.

Blue and green are her favorites.

Mavi ve yeşil onun favorileridir.

Possessive 'her' used with plural noun.

My favorites are on the table.

Favorilerim masanın üzerinde.

'Favorites' acts as the subject.

Are these your favorites?

Bunlar senin favorilerin mi?

Interrogative sentence with plural agreement.

I have three favorites.

Üç tane favorim var.

Numeral 'three' precedes the plural noun.

This song is one of my favorites.

Bu şarkı benim favorilerimden biri.

Phrase 'one of my favorites' always uses plural 'favorites'.

I added the link to my favorites.

Bağlantıyı favorilerime ekledim.

Used as a digital category/folder.

We talked about our favorites from the movie.

Filmdeki favorilerimiz hakkında konuştuk.

Possessive 'our' indicates shared discussion.

These books were my favorites when I was a child.

Bu kitaplar ben çocukken favorilerimdi.

Past tense 'were' with plural 'favorites'.

Which of these are your favorites?

Bunlardan hangileri senin favorilerin?

Selection from a group.

I keep my favorites in this folder.

Favorilerimi bu klasörde tutuyorum.

Direct object of the verb 'keep'.

She listed her favorites in her diary.

Günlüğüne favorilerini listeledi.

Possessive 'her' with plural noun.

My favorites are always the chocolate ones.

Benim favorilerim her zaman çikolatalı olanlardır.

Subject-verb agreement with 'are'.

The teacher shouldn't play favorites in class.

Öğretmen sınıfta adam kayırmamalı.

Idiom 'play favorites' means to show bias.

Who are the favorites to win the game tonight?

Bu akşamki maçı kazanmak için favoriler kimler?

Refers to predicted winners.

I have too many favorites to pick just one.

Sadece birini seçmek için çok fazla favorim var.

Indicates a large group of preferred items.

These recipes are old family favorites.

Bu tarifler eski aile favorileridir.

Compound noun phrase used as a predicate.

The critics' favorites were not the most popular movies.

Eleştirmenlerin favorileri en popüler filmler değildi.

Possessive 'critics'' modifying the noun.

I'm looking for my favorites in the browser history.

Tarayıcı geçmişinde favorilerimi arıyorum.

Digital usage as a noun.

Are any of these your favorites from the collection?

Koleksiyondan favorilerin olan var mı?

Partitive construction 'any of these'.

The local team are the favorites for the title.

Yerel takım şampiyonluk için favori.

Collective noun 'team' used with plural 'favorites' in British style.

The manager was criticized for playing favorites with the staff.

Müdür, personele karşı adam kayırdığı için eleştirildi.

Passive voice 'was criticized' followed by the idiom.

Despite being the favorites, the team lost the final.

Favori olmalarına rağmen, takım finali kaybetti.

Concessive clause 'Despite being'.

She has a list of favorites that she updates every month.

Her ay güncellediği bir favoriler listesi var.

Relative clause 'that she updates'.

It's difficult not to have favorites when you have so many talented students.

Bu kadar yetenekli öğrenciniz varken favorilerinizin olmaması zordur.

Infinitive phrase 'to have favorites'.

The store highlights customer favorites on its homepage.

Mağaza, ana sayfasında müşteri favorilerini öne çıkarıyor.

Compound noun 'customer favorites'.

Among the candidates, there are no clear favorites yet.

Adaylar arasında henüz net bir favori yok.

Existential 'there are' with plural 'favorites'.

The band played a medley of their all-time favorites.

Grup, tüm zamanların favorilerinden oluşan bir seçki çaldı.

Compound adjective 'all-time' modifying the noun.

I've saved all the recipes to my favorites for later use.

Tüm tarifleri daha sonra kullanmak üzere favorilerime kaydettim.

Prepositional phrase 'to my favorites'.

The literary world often has its own favorites that differ from public taste.

Edebiyat dünyasının genellikle halkın zevkinden farklı kendi favorileri vardır.

Abstract usage of 'favorites'.

In the history of the court, the king's favorites often met tragic ends.

Saray tarihinde, kralın gözdeleri genellikle trajik sonlarla karşılaştı.

Historical context referring to 'minions' or 'gözde'.

The exhibition showcased the favorites of the late benefactor.

Sergi, merhum hayırseverin favorilerini sergiledi.

Formal usage in a cultural context.

He was careful to avoid the appearance of playing favorites among his heirs.

Mirasçıları arasında adam kayırıyor gibi görünmekten kaçınmaya dikkat etti.

Complex sentence with 'appearance of'.

The favorites in the race were hampered by the muddy track conditions.

Yarıştaki favoriler, çamurlu pist koşulları nedeniyle engellendi.

Passive voice 'were hampered'.

One must distinguish between personal favorites and objective quality.

Kişisel favoriler ile nesnel kalite arasında ayrım yapılmalıdır.

Philosophical/Analytical usage.

The anthology includes several favorites from the Romantic period.

Antoloji, Romantik dönemden birkaç favoriyi içeriyor.

Refers to famous works of art/literature.

The algorithm is designed to suggest new items based on your favorites.

Algoritma, favorilerinize dayanarak yeni öğeler önermek üzere tasarlanmıştır.

Technical/Scientific context.

The fickle nature of public opinion means today's favorites are tomorrow's forgotten.

Kamuoyunun değişken doğası, bugünün favorilerinin yarının unutulanları olduğu anlamına gelir.

Metaphorical usage about fame.

She navigated the social hierarchy by becoming one of the queen's favorites.

Kraliçenin gözdelerinden biri olarak sosyal hiyerarşide yolunu buldu.

Historical/Political nuance.

The philosophical treatise explores why certain ideas become intellectual favorites in specific eras.

Felsefi inceleme, belirli fikirlerin neden belirli dönemlerde entelektüel favoriler haline geldiğini araştırıyor.

Abstract conceptual usage.

The bookies' favorites were upended by a dark horse in the final furlong.

Bahisçilerin favorileri, son düzlükte sürpriz bir isim tarafından alt üst edildi.

Idiomatic 'dark horse' and 'upended'.

A truly impartial judge must remain impervious to the allure of playing favorites.

Gerçekten tarafsız bir yargıç, adam kayırma cazibesine karşı dirençli kalmalıdır.

High-level vocabulary like 'impervious' and 'allure'.

The curator's favorites were tucked away in the private archives, far from public view.

Küratörün favorileri, halkın gözünden uzakta, özel arşivlerde saklanmıştı.

Passive construction 'were tucked away'.

The debate centered on whether the tax breaks were merely playing favorites with the wealthy.

Tartışma, vergi indirimlerinin sadece zenginleri kayırıp kayırmadığına odaklandı.

Political/Economic context.

The artist's late-period favorites show a marked departure from his earlier style.

Sanatçının geç dönem favorileri, erken dönem tarzından belirgin bir sapma gösteriyor.

Art criticism context.

Common Collocations

all-time favorites

play favorites

firm favorites

odds-on favorites

personal favorites

customer favorites

clear favorites

family favorites

critics' favorites

browser favorites

Common Phrases

one of my favorites

— Used to identify a single item from a group of preferred things.

That book is one of my favorites.

among my favorites

— Indicates that an item belongs to the speaker's preferred group.

Sushi is definitely among my favorites.

pick favorites

— To choose which ones you like best.

It's hard to pick favorites from such a great selection.

no favorites

— Treating everyone or everything equally without bias.

The judge showed no favorites during the trial.

fan favorites

— The items or people most liked by a group of fans.

The band played all the fan favorites.

heavy favorites

— Those strongly expected to win a competition.

They are the heavy favorites for the gold medal.

list of favorites

— A literal or mental list of preferred items.

I have a long list of favorites on my Spotify.

save to favorites

— To bookmark something in a digital application.

Don't forget to save this recipe to your favorites.

old favorites

— Things that have been liked for a long time.

We watched some old favorites on a rainy afternoon.

crowd favorites

— Performers or items that the audience likes best.

The acrobats were the crowd favorites.

Often Confused With

favorites vs favorite (adjective)

Adjectives don't have plural forms. Use 'favorite' before a noun, and 'favorites' as a standalone noun.

favorites vs flavors

Sometimes confused by beginners due to similar spelling/sound, but refers to taste.

favorites vs favors

Refers to kind acts or help, not preferences.

Idioms & Expressions

"play favorites"

— To show unfair preference for one person or group over others.

The coach was accused of playing favorites with his son.

informal/neutral

"odds-on favorites"

— The person or team most likely to win, according to betting odds.

They are the odds-on favorites to win the league.

sports/betting

"favorites of fortune"

— People who are very lucky or successful in life.

They seemed to be the favorites of fortune, succeeding in everything they did.

literary

"no favorites"

— Being completely impartial and fair.

In this house, we play no favorites; everyone does chores.

casual

"critics' favorites"

— Works of art that are praised by experts but maybe not the public.

The movie was one of the critics' favorites but failed at the box office.

journalistic

"firm favorites"

— Items that are consistently and strongly preferred.

Chocolate chip cookies are firm favorites in our bakery.

neutral

"all-time favorites"

— The things a person has liked best throughout their entire life.

Star Wars is one of my all-time favorites.

casual

"pick of the favorites"

— The very best among the already preferred items.

This painting is the pick of the favorites in the collection.

formal

"favorites to a fault"

— Being so biased toward something that it becomes a problem.

He was favorites to a fault with his own ideas, ignoring better suggestions.

rare/metaphorical

"digital favorites"

— A modern term for bookmarked websites or liked posts.

My digital favorites are a mess of unread articles.

modern/tech

Easily Confused

favorites vs favors

Similar spelling and sound.

'Favors' are kind acts or helpful deeds. 'Favorites' are things you like best.

He did me many favors, but these books are my favorites.

favorites vs flavors

Similar vowel sounds and 'v' consonant.

'Flavors' refers to the taste of food (chocolate, vanilla). 'Favorites' refers to preference.

My favorite flavors are strawberry and mint.

favorites vs preferences

Similar meaning.

'Preferences' is more formal and often implies a choice between specific options. 'Favorites' is more emotional.

I have no strong preferences, but these are my favorites.

favorites vs picks

Both mean selected items.

'Picks' implies a deliberate selection process, often by an expert. 'Favorites' is about personal liking.

The editor's picks included several of my favorites.

favorites vs front-runners

Both used in competitions.

'Front-runners' are those currently leading. 'Favorites' are those expected to win.

The favorites fell behind, and now there are new front-runners.

Sentence Patterns

[Plural Subject] are my favorites.

Apples are my favorites.

[Singular Subject] is one of my favorites.

This song is one of my favorites.

I have many favorites among [Category].

I have many favorites among these paintings.

Don't play favorites with [People].

Don't play favorites with the students.

The favorites to win are [Team/Person].

The favorites to win are the Lakers.

These are the critics' favorites from the [Event].

These are the critics' favorites from the festival.

The favorites of [Group/Era] often reflect [Concept].

The favorites of the Victorian era often reflect strict social codes.

To be one of the [Person's] favorites was a [Status].

To be one of the king's favorites was a dangerous honor.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely common in both spoken and written English.

Common Mistakes

These are my favorites songs. → These are my favorite songs.
Adjectives in English do not take the plural 's'. Use the singular form when it precedes a noun.
He is one of my favorite. → He is one of my favorites.
The phrase 'one of' must be followed by a plural noun because you are choosing from a group.
My favorites is pizza and pasta. → My favorites are pizza and pasta.
'Favorites' is a plural noun and requires the plural verb 'are'.
The boss is playing favorite. → The boss is playing favorites.
The idiom is always 'playing favorites' in the plural.
I have many favorites colors. → I have many favorite colors.
Again, do not pluralize the adjective 'favorite' when it's followed by a noun.

Tips

Noun vs Adjective

Never use 'favorites' with an 's' before another noun. It's 'favorite books', not 'favorites books'. Use 'favorites' only when it stands alone.

Icebreaker

Asking someone about their 'favorites' is one of the best ways to start a conversation. It's positive and lets the other person talk about what they love.

Bookmarks

Learn to use the 'favorites' bar in your browser to organize your learning materials. It's a great way to keep your SubLearn links handy!

Predicting Winners

When you hear 'the favorites' in sports, remember it's about who is expected to win, not necessarily who the speaker likes personally.

Fairness

Avoid 'playing favorites' in professional settings. It can damage team morale and lead to accusations of bias or unfairness.

US vs UK

If you see 'favourites', don't panic! It's just the British spelling. Both are perfectly fine, just try to be consistent in your own writing.

Synonyms

Try using 'top picks' or 'preferences' occasionally to make your English sound more varied and sophisticated.

The Silent O

In fast conversation, the 'o' in 'favorites' is almost silent. Practice saying 'FAV-rits' to sound more like a native speaker.

Check the Group

When using 'favorites', make sure there is actually a group of things. You can't have 'favorites' if there is only one option!

Emphasis

Use 'all-time favorites' to show that something is truly special to you and has been for a very long time.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'FAV' as 'First Among Values'. Your favorites are the things you value first.

Visual Association

Imagine a gold star next to a group of your most loved items. The star represents the 'favorite' status.

Word Web

Likes Preferences Bookmarks Winners Bias Choices Beloved Picks

Challenge

Write down five of your favorites in different categories (food, music, place) and explain why they are your favorites using the plural noun form.

Word Origin

Derived from the Middle French word 'favori', which comes from the verb 'favoriser' (to favor).

Original meaning: A person who is treated with special favor, especially by a king or superior.

Indo-European (Latin root 'favere' meaning 'to be well-disposed').

Cultural Context

Be careful when using 'favorites' regarding people in a group setting to avoid hurt feelings.

Commonly used in small talk ('What are your favorites?').

The movie 'The Favourite' (2018) about Queen Anne's court. The song 'My Favorite Things' from The Sound of Music. The 'People's Choice Awards' which celebrate public favorites.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Talking about hobbies

What are your favorites?
These are my favorites.
I have a few favorites.
One of my favorites is...

Using a computer

Add to favorites.
Check your favorites.
My favorites list.
Save as favorites.

Sports betting

Who are the favorites?
The heavy favorites.
Odds-on favorites.
The favorites lost.

Workplace/School

Don't play favorites.
The teacher's favorites.
Showing favorites.
No favorites here.

Shopping

Customer favorites.
Our top favorites.
Shop your favorites.
New favorites.

Conversation Starters

"What are some of your all-time favorites when it comes to 90s music?"

"Do you think it's possible for a parent to not have favorites among their children?"

"Which of these restaurant options are your favorites for a Friday night?"

"Who do you think are the favorites to win the championship this year?"

"I'm looking for new book recommendations; what are some of your favorites?"

Journal Prompts

List five of your childhood favorites and explain why you loved them so much back then.

Reflect on a time you felt someone was playing favorites at work or school. How did it affect you?

If you had to choose only three favorites from your entire music library to keep forever, which would they be?

Describe the 'favorites' list on your web browser. What does it say about your current interests?

Write about why humans feel the need to have favorites rather than liking everything equally.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Both are correct. 'Favorites' is the standard American English spelling, while 'favourites' is the standard British English spelling. You should choose one based on your target audience and be consistent. For example, if you are writing for a US company, use 'favorites'.

No, that is a common mistake. In English, adjectives do not have plural forms. You should say 'my favorite books' (adjective) or 'these books are my favorites' (noun). When 'favorites' has an 's', it must stand alone as a noun.

It means showing unfair preference for one person or group over others. It is usually used in a negative way to describe a boss, teacher, or parent who is not being impartial. For example, 'The coach is playing favorites by only letting his friends' kids play.'

The word 'favorites' is the plural form. The singular form is 'favorite'. You use 'favorites' when you are talking about two or more things you like best, or when you are using the phrase 'one of my favorites'.

In most web browsers, 'favorites' (or bookmarks) is a feature where you can save the addresses of websites you want to visit again. You usually click a star icon to 'add to favorites' and then access them through a 'favorites' menu.

Yes, it can. You can say 'They are my favorites in the class.' However, be careful as this can sometimes imply bias or favoritism, which might be seen as negative in certain social situations.

'Favorites' is more casual and emotional, often used for things you love. 'Preferences' is more formal and is often used in professional contexts, like 'dietary preferences' or 'workplace preferences'.

This is a term from sports betting. It refers to a competitor that is so likely to win that the bookmakers offer very low payouts. It means they are the extremely strong favorites.

Because you are selecting one item from a group of multiple things you like. The group must be plural, so you use 'favorites'. For example, 'This is one (singular) of my favorites (plural group).'

In modern digital slang, yes. People sometimes say 'I favorited your post,' meaning they clicked the favorite button. However, in formal English, 'favorite' is primarily a noun or an adjective.

Test Yourself 200 questions

writing

Write a short paragraph (3-4 sentences) about your three favorite movies, using the word 'favorites' as a noun.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Ensure 'favorites' is used as a noun and matches the plural context.