Lite vs Light: Understanding the Difference

Lite vs Light: What’s the Difference?

Many people get confused between lite and light. They look almost the same, but they mean different things.

History of the Words

Light is an old word. People have used it for many, many years. It means the opposite of dark. It can also mean not heavy.

Lite is a newer word. It comes from the word light but is used in a special way. People started to use lite in the 20th century, mostly in advertising for food and drinks.

How to Use the Words

Light means not dark or not heavy.

Lite means a product has fewer calories or is made in a simpler way. It is often used for food or drinks.

Trick to Remember the Difference

To remember the difference, think about this:

• Use light when you talk about something not heavy or not dark.
• Use lite when you talk about food or drinks with fewer calories.

Examples of “Light”

• We need more light in this room.
• The light bulb is broken.
• This bag is light, I can carry it easily.
• Let’s eat a light snack.
• The sky is light blue.

Examples of “Lite”

• I bought a lite soda.
• This yogurt is lite and has less fat.
• You can find lite versions of many snacks.
• Some people prefer lite beer.
• This cereal is marked as lite on the box.

Summary

The word light means not heavy or not dark. Use lite for foods or drinks with fewer calories. Remember, lite is mostly for products and is a newer word.