dulces
/ˈdulθes/
In Spanish, candies is translated as dulces.
dulces refers to small pieces of sweet food made primarily from sugar.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is the plural form of dulce, which is also the Spanish adjective for sweet.
Which one should you use?
While dulces is a general term for sweets, the word caramelos is often used specifically for hard candies or boiled sweets.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form of the word is dulce. When referring to candies in a general sense, such as 'I like candies', Spanish often uses the definite article los before the noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈdulθes/
Did you know?
- If you are in Mexico and ask for dulces, you might be handed a variety of traditional candies ranging from spicy-sweet tamarind treats to fruit-based sweets, rather than just standard chocolate or hard candies.
- The word caramelos is often the preferred term in Spain for hard candies, whereas in many parts of the Americas, caramelos refers specifically to soft or chewy caramels.
- In some Caribbean Spanish-speaking regions, you might hear the word golosinas used to describe candies, a term that carries a slightly more playful or childish connotation.
Examples in context
- No comas demasiados dulces.Don't eat too many candies.This sentence is useful for giving advice about how many dulces to consume.Tatoeba #4549590 by atomsk, translation #9472126 by DJ_Saidez
- A mí también me gustan los dulces.I too like candies.This sentence shows how to express a general preference for dulces.Tatoeba #1593750 by Shishir, translation #2709093 by Dejo
- Tras seis semanas a dieta, Eugenio no había perdido ni un gramo porque comía dulces a escondidas cuando creía que nadie miraba, sin darse cuenta de que a la báscula no la podría engañar.After six weeks on a diet, Eugenio hadn't lost a single ounce because he secretly ate candies when he thought that no one was watching, not realizing that he couldn't trick the scales.This sentence illustrates a context where someone eats dulces in secret.Tatoeba #10202134 by Shishir, translation #10203017 by DJ_Saidez
- ¿Tienes algún tipo de dulces?Do you have any kind of candies?
- ¡Quiero caramelos!I want candies!
- ¿Me compras algunas chucherías?Will you buy me some candies?
- un caramelo de mentaA mint candy
- un dulce de chocolateA chocolate candy
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are at a candy shop.
- Mateo¿Quieres comprar algunos dulces?Do you want to buy some candies?
- SofíaSí, me encantan los dulces.Yes, I love candies.
- MateoMira estos dulces de colores.Look at these colorful candies.
- SofíaSon muy bonitos, Mateo.They are very pretty, Mateo.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry dulces, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
