Pajamas vs. Pyjamas
Cambridge labels “pajamas” as the US spelling and “pyjamas” as the UK spelling for the sleepwear noun.
Use “pajamas” in US English and “pyjamas” in UK English.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| sleepwear noun in US English | pajamas | Use “pajamas.” |
| same sleepwear noun in UK English | pyjamas | Use “pyjamas.” |
| brand name, title, quotation, or house style | preserve the required spelling | Do not normalize fixed wording automatically. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Are you choosing the ordinary spelling for the sleepwear noun?
If yes: Use “pajamas” for US English and “pyjamas” for UK English.
If no: If fixed wording or a house style specifies a form, keep that spelling.
Caveat: The difference is regional spelling, not meaning. Both forms are standard in the varieties that use them.
Examples
The children changed into their pajamas before bed.
“Pajamas” follows US spelling.
The children changed into their pyjamas before bed.
“Pyjamas” follows UK spelling.
The quotation retains the author’s original spelling.
Verbatim material should not be silently regionalized.
Further guidance
Core difference
Use “pajamas” in US English and “pyjamas” in UK English.
Fast Test
Match the form to the intended meaning, regional convention, or required house style, then keep that choice consistent.
Variant Boundary
The difference is regional spelling rather than a difference in the sleepwear meaning.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Pajamas — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · US spelling of pyjamas
- Pyjamas — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · UK pyjamas form and US pajamas counterpart