In the US, "pajamas" is the standard spelling. In most other English-speaking countries, including Britain and Australia, "pyjamas" is the preferred spelling.

Despite being spelled differently, the meaning of the words "pajamas" and "pyjamas" is the same.

Put your pajamas/pyjamas on.

What are the differences between American, British, Australian, and American spelling?

• In the US, "pajamas" is the standard spelling.
• In Britain and Australia, "pyjamas" is the correct one (Australian spelling follows British English very closely).
• In Canada, you can use both of them; however, "pyjamas" is probably more common.
• In most other English-speaking countries, "pyjamas" is the preferred spelling.

Where did you put my pajamas? (American English)

Where did you put my pyjamas? (Most other English-speaking countries, including the UK and Australia)

As a simple way of remembering these spelling patterns, imagine that the first "a" in "pajamas" stands for America.

She needs to buy new pajamas. (American English)

Remember, "pajamas" is a plural noun, so we say "pajamas/pyjamas are" (not "pajamas/pyjamas" is).

Where are your pajamas?

Where is your pajamas?

While we cannot use a/an or numbers with plural nouns, we can introduce the term "pair" to say "a pair of pajamas/pyjamas", "two pairs of pajamas/pyjamas", etc.

She bought a new pair of pajamas/pyjamas from the store.