Neighbourhood or Neighborhood? Which to Use in Vancouver
Both spellings are correct. Learn which fits Canadian usage and why Vancouver neighbourhood names and boundaries matter more when choosing a base.
Both spellings are correct. For Vancouver, use “neighbourhood” if you want to follow local Canadian usage; “neighborhood” is the American spelling. They mean the same thing—not different types of city districts.
Which spelling fits your writing?
| Audience or context | Spelling to use |
|---|---|
| Vancouver or other Canadian readers | neighbourhood |
| British readers | neighbourhood |
| American readers | neighborhood |
| A quotation or an organization’s name | Keep the original spelling |
Cambridge Dictionary labels neighbourhood as UK usage and neighborhood as the US form. In British Columbia, Open School BC’s editorial style guide follows preferred Canadian spelling and explicitly lists “neighbour, neighbourhood.”
For example, you could write: “Which Vancouver neighbourhood should I stay in?” For an American audience, “Which Vancouver neighborhood should I stay in?” is equally clear. Choose one convention and keep it consistent in your own text. Both forms are written as one word; their plurals are neighbourhoods and neighborhoods.
Reading Vancouver neighbourhood maps
For trip planning, the distinction that matters is the place name and its boundaries, not the extra u.
The City of Vancouver divides the city into 22 distinct areas, including Kitsilano, Mount Pleasant and the West End. Its directory also includes smaller or more familiar names such as Yaletown, Gastown and Commercial Drive. The City acknowledges disagreement over some neighbourhood names and boundaries, so don’t expect every guide to divide Vancouver identically. See the City’s areas directory for local names and maps.
Yaletown is a useful example: the City covers it within its Downtown page, while also describing its distinct former warehouse district. A broad “Downtown” label therefore isn’t enough to tell you exactly where a hotel sits.
When booking, check the actual address, the walk to your intended transit stop and the places you expect to visit. Our guide to choosing a Vancouver neighbourhood base helps you compare those practical trade-offs.