Inklingo
← Dictionary
A collection of vibrant, individually wrapped hard candies and a simple spiral lollipop resting on a light surface, illustrating the general concept of sweets.

caramelos

kah-rah-MEH-lohs

NounmA1
candies?general term for sweets,sweets?British English equivalent
Also:toffee?hard, chewy candy,lozenges?small, medicinal candies (often *caramelos para la tos*)

📝 In Action

Compré una bolsa de caramelos para la fiesta.

A1

I bought a bag of candies for the party.

¿Tienes caramelos de limón? Son mis favoritos.

A1

Do you have lemon sweets? They are my favorite.

El dentista dice que no debo comer tantos caramelos.

A2

The dentist says I shouldn't eat so many candies.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • dulces (sweets/desserts (more general))
  • golosinas (treats/junk food)

Common Collocations

  • bolsa de caramelos – bag of candies
  • caramelos de menta – mint candies

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Plural

The singular form is caramelo (masculine). Since caramelos ends in -os, it is used with masculine plural words, like 'los caramelos' (the candies) or 'muchos caramelos' (many candies).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Gender Confusion

Mistake: "La caramelos"

Correction: Los caramelos. Remember that words ending in -o are almost always masculine in Spanish.

⭐ Usage Tips

Regional Differences

While caramelos is widely understood, some countries prefer dulces (Mexico, Central America) or chucherías (Spain) to describe cheap, packaged sweets.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: caramelos

Question 1 of 2

Which Spanish word is a synonym for *caramelos* but is a more general term that can also mean 'desserts'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

caramelo(candy (singular)) - noun
caramelizar(to caramelize) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is *caramelos* the most common word for 'candy' everywhere?

It is widely understood across all Spanish-speaking regions. However, in some places (like Mexico), *dulces* is often the default word for general packaged candy and treats.

Does *caramelos* ever mean 'caramel' (the flavor)?

Yes, *caramelo* (singular) is also the word for the flavor 'caramel' or 'toffee' (e.g., *sabor a caramelo*). When used in the plural (*caramelos*), it nearly always means the hard candies themselves.