caramelo
/ka.ɾaˈmɛ.lu/masculine
To say 'toffee' in Portuguese, you use caramelo.
The word caramelo is used broadly in Portuguese to describe both toffee and caramel-flavored confectionery.
Meaning: uncountable: type of confectionery (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable. The IPA is /ka.ɾaˈmɛ.lu/.
Did you know?
- In Brazilian street culture, the vira-lata caramelo (caramel mongrel) is so iconic that it is often featured in memes and advertising.
- While caramelo describes the taste and color, the texture of toffee is often further specified using the word puxa-puxa, which means 'pull-pull'.
- The word caramelo might trace back to the Late Medieval Latin term cannamellis, which literally translates to 'honey cane'.
Examples in context
- O doce de caramelo estava delicioso!The toffee candy was delicious!
- Gostaria de experimentar um caramelo duro?Would you like to try a hard toffee?
- Tenho uma bala de caramelo para você!I have a toffee candy for you!
- Adoro os bombons de caramelo dessa loja!I love the toffee candies from this store!
- Eu gosto muito de caramelo.I like toffee very much.
- Este caramelo é muito doce.This toffee is very sweet.
- Você quer um pouco de caramelo?Do you want some toffee?
Example conversation
Mariana and Felipe are sharing a dessert at a cafe.
- MarianaEste caramelo está delicioso, Felipe.This toffee is delicious, Felipe.
- FelipeEu também adoro esse caramelo.I love this toffee too.
- MarianaQuer comer o resto do meu?Do you want to eat the rest of mine?
- FelipeSim, eu aceito sim.Yes, I will.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “toffee” translations and entries caramelo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caramelo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
