Smelled vs. Smelt

alternative spellings british vs american past tense

This time, we're gonna discuss the differences and similarities between these two words. If you're still interested in expanding your knowledge, join me.

What Is Their Main Difference?

They are both past tense forms of the verb 'smell' in English. However, Americans tend to use 'smelled', whereas, British speakers tend to use 'smelt' more.

Differences

American speakers tend to use 'smelled' as the past tense of 'smell', whereas, British speakers tend to use 'smelt' as the past tense of 'smell'. Look at the examples below:

I thought I smelled cheese.

It smelt of roses and vanilla.

Similarities

Both are past tenses of the verb 'smell'. Look at the examples below:

It looked cute, but as it got closer, it smelled terrible.

I still remember how Jerry was hypnotized when he smelt cheese.

Are They Interchangeable?

Most native speakers use these two interchangeably because they are one and the same. Compare:

✓ The moment I entered the house, I smelled vanilla.

✓ The moment I entered the house, I smelt vanilla.

As you can see, both examples are correct and they have the same meaning.

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