sweets
/swiːts/ IELTSAcademic
noun
Sweet foods or candies, especially small sugary treats. In British English, this is a common word for confectionery.
- The children bought sweets after school.
- I keep a few sweets in my bag.
- Would you like a sweet with your tea?
Adinary Nuance
Sweets is broader and more British than candy. In Indian English, it can mean both chocolates and small sugar candies, while in American English people usually say candy. If you mean a sweet dish after a meal, say dessert instead.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- kẹo
- Spanish
- caramelos
- Chinese
- 糖果
- Japanese
- お菓子
- Korean
- 사탕
Etymology
Sweets comes from Old English swete, meaning “pleasant to taste.” The plural form became common for sugary treats, especially in British English.
Common phrases
sweets and chocolatea bag of sweetsgive someone sweetssweets shop
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is sweets singular or plural?
- It is usually plural when talking about candy or sugary treats.
- Is sweets used in American English?
- It is understood, but Americans usually say candy.
- What is the difference between sweets and dessert?
- Sweets are small sugary treats. Dessert is the sweet course after a meal.