Dulce
Americannoun
Usage
What does dulce mean? Dulce is Spanish for “sweet.” It most commonly shows up in English in foods whose names come from Spanish, like dulce de leche and pan dulce. In Spanish, dulce literally means “sweet,” but it’s commonly used to refer to sugary treats—much like how we use the word sweets in English. The related English word dolce (which is taken from Italian instead of Spanish) means sweet or soft. Dulce is also used as a female name, especially in places where Spanish is spoken. Example: Although dulce de leche and caramel look and taste a lot alike, caramel is made from sugar, while dulce de leche is made from sweetened milk.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
City officials say nearly 20 tons of trash -- from plastic and glass bottles to food waste -- is collected every week at Agua Dulce.
From Barron's ● Feb. 14, 2026
Longtime fan Dulce Gonzalez held back emotion as she showed off her shirt with the name “Valenzuela” written across it, describing the reason she started watching baseball.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2025
Head to Townson Ranch in Agua Dulce, where six-time Bill Pickett Invitational champion DeBoraha Townson offers horseback riding lessons and hands-on programs designed to build strong horsemanship skills.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2025
Dulce also starred in several Spanish-language soap operas, beginning with “Muñeca Rota” in 1978.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 26, 2024
We could have been out with Miriam and Dulce a whole week ago.
From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
