In Italian, dolce is a versatile word that primarily means sweet, but it can also refer to a dessert or something gentle or soft depending on the context.
Here are the different meanings of dolce:
- As “sweet” (taste): When used as an adjective, dolce describes something sweet in taste, like food or drinks. It can apply to anything that has a sugary or pleasant flavor.
- Questo gelato è molto dolce – This ice cream is very sweet.
- Mi piace il vino dolce – I like sweet wine.
- As “dessert”: Dolce is also a noun in Italian and is commonly used to refer to dessert. When Italians say they are having a dolce, they are referring to any kind of dessert, such as cakes, pastries, or sweets.
- Dopo cena, prendo un dolce – After dinner, I’ll have a dessert.
- Qual è il dolce di oggi? – What’s today’s dessert?
- As “gentle” or “soft”: In a broader sense, dolce can also describe something that is gentle, soft, or pleasant, either in touch, sound, or behavior. For example, it can refer to a soft voice, a gentle breeze, or a kind person.
- Ha una voce dolce – She has a sweet (or soft) voice.
- Il vento è dolce oggi – The wind is gentle today.
- As “melody” or “tune”: In music, dolce can be used as a direction in sheet music to play a passage sweetly or gently.
- Suona questa parte dolce e delicata – Play this part sweetly and delicately.
In summary, dolce is a versatile word in Italian that can mean sweet in terms of flavor, dessert, or describe something gentle and pleasant. Its meaning is determined by the context, but it generally carries positive, soft, or pleasant connotations.