Get started

“Somber” or “Sombre”

Somber is predominantly used in American (US) English (en-US) while sombre is predominantly used in British English (used in UK/AU/NZ) (en-GB).

Get Sapling See examples
Usage by country

Where each spelling is used

Of the 12 countries below, 7 prefer “somber” and 2 prefer “sombre”. Usage levels are out of 100; the more common spelling in each country is in bold.

Usage level out of 100 (if available).
Country somber sombre Preference
United States 92 8 “somber”
United Kingdom 54 46 “somber”
India 44 56 “sombre”
Philippines 89 11 “somber”
Canada 51 49 “somber”
Australia 62 38 “somber”
Liberia 0 0 Not enough data
Ireland 50 50 No clear preference
New Zealand 60 40 “somber”
Jamaica 67 33 “somber”
Trinidad & Tobago 49 51 “sombre”
Guyana 0 0 Not enough data
Usage

Examples in context

Real sentences for each spelling. Hover an example to copy it.

“somber”

  • …wrote, directed and edited a somber romance called Silent Journey, in…
  • …Is About was radically more somber, with a more gothic sound.
  • …Iverson was very apologetic and somber.
  • …instruments and the darker, more somber mood".
  • …was one of much more somber tones."
  • …sticks and candles, creating a somber environment.
  • …horror and be moved to somber reflection by its pensive philosophy".
  • …described the sequel as "more somber in tone", and as "sometimes…
  • contrasted with the somber longing expressed in Clapton's voice…
  • …an aid in projecting the somber mood."

“sombre”

  • …best remembered for leading the sombre peloton across the finish line…
  • …L'Enfant, Ronde gauloise, Le Sentier sombre, Lied, Chants d'oiseaux, Sérénade, Adieux…
  • …by a generally melancholy and sombre sound with matching artwork.
  • Sombre was elected in 1841 but…
  • …nicknamed 'le brun' and 'le sombre' to distinguish him from the…
  • The early 1940s marked the sombre war years.
  • …mood of tension, foreboding and sombre reflection through occasional moments of…
  • …black and fuscous (dark and sombre).
  • Nota sombre uma especia nova do Genero…
  • …many later works are rather sombre, with touches of bright colour.

Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license.

Too much to remember?

Looking for a tool that handles this for you wherever you write?

Install Sapling Try the grammar checker