Today’s Internet Spelling Bee

When it comes to how to spell the super fast, non copper, non wireless kind if internet, in South Africa it’s Fibre Internet.

TL/DR

Wait. But why?

Way back in the 19th century Americans moved for a distinctly American version of English. Meanwhile, at the same time, many British linguists preferred to spell words that they borrowed from French and Latin closer to their original spellings. In the case of fibre vs fiber, the former is likely the case. Fibre came to English from Latin through French, and the -re ending is common in French.

South Africa is a beautiful and diverse country, which means you can get away with using either English or American spelling, but because SA was a British Colony in the past, it would be technically correct to use “Fibre”. But we won’t hold it against you.