Inklingo
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caramelo

/kah-rah-MEH-loh/

candy

A single piece of shiny, spherical hard candy wrapped in clear cellophane, tied at the ends.

In its most common usage, caramelo means a piece of hard confectionery, or candy.

caramelo(noun)

mA1

candy

?

a piece of hard confectionery

,

sweet

?

UK English term for candy

Also:

lozenge

?

cough drop or medicinal sweet

📝 In Action

Mi abuela siempre tiene caramelos de menta en su bolso.

A1

My grandmother always has mint candies in her purse.

No comas tantos caramelos antes de la cena.

A2

Don't eat so many sweets before dinner.

Este caramelo es para la tos, no es muy dulce.

A2

This lozenge is for the cough, it's not very sweet.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • golosina (sweet treat (general))
  • dulce (sweet (noun/adjective))

Common Collocations

  • caramelo blando – soft candy/toffee
  • caramelo duro – hard candy

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Noun

Even though many Spanish words ending in '-a' are feminine, 'caramelo' ends in '-o' and is always masculine, so you use 'el caramelo' or 'un caramelo'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Cough Drops

In Spain, 'caramelo' is frequently used for cough drops or medicinal lozenges, especially if you add a flavor like 'mentol' (menthol).

A thick stream of golden-brown caramel sauce dripping slowly from a wooden spoon into a white bowl.

Caramelo also refers specifically to the substance or flavor known as caramel.

caramelo(noun)

mB1

caramel

?

the substance or flavor

Also:

caramel coating

?

a glaze or sauce

📝 In Action

El flan tiene una capa de caramelo por encima.

B1

The flan has a layer of caramel on top.

Necesitas calentar el azúcar hasta que se convierta en caramelo líquido.

B2

You need to heat the sugar until it turns into liquid caramel.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • almíbar (syrup)

Common Collocations

  • sabor a caramelo – caramel flavor
  • punto de caramelo – caramelization point (cooking term)

💡 Grammar Points

Used as a Flavor

When describing the flavor, you use 'sabor a caramelo' (flavor of caramel), similar to how you use 'sabor a chocolate'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: caramelo

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'caramelo' to refer to a dessert ingredient, rather than a single piece of candy?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

caramelizar(to caramelize) - verb
acaramelado(caramelized; honeyed (voice)) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I say 'lollypop' in Spanish?

While 'caramelo' is sometimes used, the most common and universally understood terms are 'piruleta' (Spain) or 'paleta' (Mexico/Central America). They specify that the candy is on a stick.

Is 'caramelo' only used for hard candy?

No. While it primarily means hard candy, it can refer to soft toffee ('caramelo blando') or even gummy bears in some regions, though 'gomitas' is more specific for gummies.