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dulces

/DOOL-sehs/

sweets

An assortment of colorful, wrapped and unwrapped candies, including lollipops and gummy bears, representing confectionery.

When used as a noun, 'dulces' refers to sweets or confectionery, like these candies.

dulces(noun)

mA1

sweets

?

confectionery, candy

Also:

candy

?

US English term

,

desserts

?

often used to refer to sweet treats in general

📝 In Action

Mi abuela siempre tiene un tarro lleno de dulces.

A1

My grandmother always has a jar full of sweets (candy).

Compramos muchos dulces para la fiesta de cumpleaños.

A1

We bought a lot of candy for the birthday party.

No comas tantos dulces antes de la cena.

A2

Don't eat so many sweets before dinner.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • golosinas (treats/candy)
  • caramelos (hard candies)

Common Collocations

  • bolsa de dulces – bag of candy
  • tienda de dulces – sweet shop / candy store

💡 Grammar Points

Gender and Number

Even though 'dulce' is an adjective, when it means 'sweets' or 'candy,' it is used as a masculine noun: 'el dulce' (one piece of candy), 'los dulces' (many sweets).

⭐ Usage Tips

Treats vs. Dessert

While 'postre' is the main word for 'dessert,' if you are speaking generally about sweet treats, especially confectionery, 'dulces' is the right choice.

A simple white bowl filled with plump, ripe red strawberries and purple grapes, symbolizing items that are sweet.

As a plural adjective, 'dulces' describes things that are sweet, such as ripe fruits.

dulces(adjective)

m/fA1

sweet

?

describing taste (plural)

Also:

gentle

?

describing personality or sound (plural)

📝 In Action

Estas fresas están muy dulces.

A1

These strawberries are very sweet.

Sus palabras eran dulces y amables.

B1

His words were sweet and kind.

Las voces de los niños sonaban dulces en el coro.

B2

The children's voices sounded sweet in the choir.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • azucarados (sugary)
  • melifluos (honeyed/melodious)

Antonyms

  • amargos (bitter)
  • salados (salty)

Common Collocations

  • sabores dulces – sweet flavors
  • frutas dulces – sweet fruits

💡 Grammar Points

Adjective Agreement

As an adjective, 'dulces' must match the noun it describes. It is the plural form for both masculine ('los pasteles dulces') and feminine nouns ('las galletas dulces').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Singular Form

Mistake: "Las bebidas es dulce."

Correction: Las bebidas son dulces. (The drinks are sweet.) Remember to make both the adjective and the verb plural when describing a plural noun.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: dulces

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'dulces' as a noun (meaning candy/sweets)?

📚 More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'dulces' only for candy, or can it mean other desserts?

While 'dulces' most commonly means packaged candy or confectionery, it can also be used broadly to refer to sweet pastries or treats, especially in plural form. If you want to specify a meal's final course, use 'postre' (dessert).

How do I know if 'dulces' is an adjective or a noun in a sentence?

If it has 'los' or 'unos' in front of it (Los dulces, Unos dulces), it's almost certainly the noun meaning 'sweets.' If it comes after a noun and describes it (palabras dulces, frutas dulces), it is the adjective 'sweet.'