dulce
/ˈdulθe/
The Spanish word dulce means sweet or a sweet treat.
dulce can be used as a noun to refer to a food or treat that tastes sweet, such as candy. It is also the standard adjective used to describe something that has a sweet taste. A very common specific use is the phrase dulce de leche, which refers to a popular Latin American milk-based confection often described as milk jam or a caramel-like milk spread.
Which one should you use?
While dulce can function as a noun meaning a sweet treat, it also serves as the standard adjective to describe the flavor of something.
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as an adjective, dulce is invariant for gender, meaning it stays the same whether the noun it describes is masculine or feminine. The plural form of the noun is dulces, meaning sweets or candies.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈdulθe/
Did you know?
- English speakers may recognize the word 'dulcet' in phrases like 'dulcet tones', which shares the same Latin root as dulce.
- While dulce describes a flavor, in many Spanish-speaking cultures, calling a person dulce implies they have a gentle or kind temperament rather than a sugary taste.
- In Spanish, the opposite of dulce is salado, which specifically means 'salty' rather than just 'not sweet'.
Examples in context
- Me encanta el pastel de chocolate. ¡Es tan dulce!I love chocolate cake. It's so sweet!
- Quiero comer algo dulcecito después de la cena.I want to eat something sweet after dinner.
- ¡Mira este postre! Parece delicioso y muy dulce.Look at this dessert! It looks delicious and very sweet.
- Este dulce es muy rico.This sweet is very tasty.
- No quiero comer mucho dulce.I don't want to eat much sweet food.
- ¿Prefieres el dulce o el salado?Do you prefer sweet or salty?
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are sharing snacks at a park.
- Elena¿Quieres probar este dulce?Do you want to try this sweet?
- AlejandroSí, gracias Elena, se ve muy bueno.Yes, thanks Elena, it looks very good.
- ElenaEs mi dulce favorito.It is my favorite sweet.
- AlejandroEs realmente delicioso.It is really delicious.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry dulce, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dulce, CC BY-SA 4.0.
