Lable vs Label Quiz: Test Yourself
Five quick questions on lable vs label. Pick an answer to get instant feedback.
Flip Cards: Quick Review
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Correct spelling. A tag, name or category; also to attach one.
“Read the label before you use it.”
Not a word. A typo for label.
“Always fix it to label.”
US past tense of label (single l).
“She labeled every box.”
UK and Australian past tense of label (double l).
“He labelled the folders.”
Lable vs label is one of those spelling puzzles that looks harder than it is. The two words look almost identical and sound the same when spoken, so it is easy to type the wrong one without noticing. Only one of them exists. This guide explains what label means, why “lable” keeps showing up, and how to get it right every time.
| Term | Meaning | Part of speech / Category | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Label | A tag or piece of material that identifies or describes something; a name or category given to someone or something; a record company or fashion brand | Noun | The label says the soup is vegetarian. |
| Label | To attach a tag to something, or to put someone in a category | Verb | Please label the files before you send them. |
| Lable | Nothing. It is not a word in standard English | Misspelling | ✗ She read the lable on the jar. |
What does “label” mean?
Label is a noun and a verb that has to do with marking or naming something. As a noun, it is a piece of paper, fabric or other material attached to an object to identify or describe it. Think of the nutrition label on a cereal box or the care label inside a jacket.
Label can also mean a name or category given to a person or thing, as in “He could not shake off the perfectionist label.” It also refers to a company that produces music, which is why we say “record label,” and it can describe a fashion brand.
As a verb, to label means to attach a label to something, or to assign someone to a category, often unfairly. For example: “I need to label these boxes before the move” and “Try not to label people based on how they dress.”
Is “lable” a real word?
No, lable is not a real word. Dictionaries list only label, and writing guides treat lable as an error that should be corrected wherever it appears. If your spell checker puts a red line under it, the spell checker is right.
There is no regional exception either. American and British English both spell the word label. The only regional difference involves the past tense, which we cover below.
Why do people write “lable”?
The mistake comes from sound and pattern. The last syllable of label sounds like the ending of table, stable and cable. Because those words end in -ble, writers apply the same pattern and arrive at lable.
It also helps that the two spellings differ only by swapping the last two letters. That makes the typo easy to miss when you proofread quickly, especially in emails, product listings and spreadsheets where labels are everywhere.
What is the real difference between lable vs label?
The only difference between lable vs label is that one exists and one does not. Label is correct in every context: a label on a jar, a label in a spreadsheet, a record label, or a label you put on a person.
Lable has no meaning, no dictionary entry and no valid use. If you are ever unsure, choose label. You will be right 100% of the time.
Is it labeled or labelled?
Both are correct, depending on where you write. Once you have settled on label, the only spelling choice left is the past tense and the -ing form.
American English uses labeled and labeling, with a single l. British and Australian English use labelled and labelling, with a double l. Pick the version that matches your audience and stay consistent. Forms built on lable, such as “labled,” are wrong in every dialect.
How can you remember which one to use?
Say the word slowly: la-BEL. The final sound is the same as in level, model and travel, and all of those words end in -el. Link label to that group and the right ending follows. The memory tricks below give you a few more shortcuts.
Common mistakes with lable vs label
- ✗ Please read the lable before use.
✓ Please read the label before use. - ✗ Don’t lable people by their job title.
✓ Don’t label people by their job title. - ✗ She forgot to lable the boxes.
✓ She forgot to label the boxes. - ✗ The band left their record lable last year.
✓ The band left their record label last year. - ✗ The file was labled ‘final’.
✓ The file was labeled ‘final’.
Memory tricks
- The -el family: label belongs with level, model, travel and panel. They all end in -el, not -le.
- Sound it out: la-BEL has a clear “bel” at the end. If you write “ble,” you have drifted toward table and cable.
- Swap test: if you type lable, swap the last two letters. Label is the only version that survives.
Frequently asked questions
Is it lable or label?
It is label. Lable is not a real word; it is a common misspelling of label.
Why is lable wrong?
English spells this word with -el at the end. Lable copies the -ble ending of words like table, stable and cable, which is a different pattern.
Can label be a verb?
Yes. To label means to attach a label to something or to put someone in a category, as in ‘Please label the files.’
Is it labeled or labelled?
Both are correct, depending on region. American English uses labeled and labeling; British and Australian English use labelled and labelling.
Does label also mean a record company?
Yes. A record label is a company that produces and releases music, and label can also refer to a fashion brand.
Conclusion
Lable vs label is an easy one to settle: label is the only correct spelling, and lable is just a typo. Check that the ending is -el, like level, and retake the quiz above whenever you need a refresher. Share this with someone who mixes these up.