Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bonbon | /bɔ̃.bɔ̃/ | masculine |
| sucrerie | /sy.kʁə.ʁi/ | feminine |
| dragée | /dʁa.ʒe/ | feminine |
You might also use sucrerie when speaking about sweets or confectionery in a more general or collective sense.
What does it mean word for word?
The word bonbon is a reduplication of the adjective bon, meaning good-good.
Which one should you use?
Use bonbon when referring to a single piece or a specific type of candy. In contrast, sucrerie is a more general term for sweets or sugary treats. If you are referring specifically to small, hard-shelled sugar-coated candies, such as those used in wedding favors, use dragée.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain regions, sucette may be used to refer to a lollipop instead of bonbon.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
bonbon is a masculine noun. sucrerie and dragée are feminine nouns. Related verbs include candir and confire, which mean to cook or to coat something with sugar or syrup.
How do you pronounce it?
/bɔ̃.bɔ̃/ (2 syllables)
Did you know?
- While bonbon comes from the word for 'good', the word bonbonne meaning a 'carboy' or large glass bottle is unrelated and comes from a word for a booming sound.
- The term dragée is specifically associated with wedding favors in French culture, where these sugar-coated almonds are traditionally given to guests.
- The word sucrerie can refer to a candy shop or the actual process of sugar refining in an industrial plant.
Examples in context
- Je veux un bonbon.I want a piece of candy.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire for a single bonbon.Tatoeba #3874 by zmoo, translation #2067 by CK
- Il mange des bonbons.He is eating candy.This sentence is useful for describing the action of eating bonbon.Tatoeba #12004671 by Rovo, translation #13855529 by tieguy
- À qui est ce bonbon ?Whose candy is this?This sentence is useful for asking about the ownership of a bonbon.Tatoeba #13959045 by zogwarg, translation #6273794 by CK
- Des confiseries raffinéesRefined candies
- Le bonbonThe candy
- Des bonbons colorésColorful candies
- Les dragéesSugar-coated almonds
- Les berlingotsHard candies
- une barbe à papaCotton candy
- 43 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Lucas are sitting on a park bench.
- ManonLucas, regarde, j'ai un bonbon !Lucas, look, I have a candy!
- LucasC'est un bonbon au chocolat ?Is it a chocolate candy?
- ManonNon, c'est un bonbon à la fraise.No, it is a strawberry candy.
- LucasOh, donne-le moi, s'il te plaît.Oh, give it to me, please.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “candy” translations and entries bonbon, sucrerie, dragée, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bonbon, dragée, sucrerie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
