🌍 American vs British · vocabulary

candy vs sweets

Sweet confectionery made primarily from sugar.

American
candy

“The kids filled their bags with candy on Halloween.”

British
sweets

“The kids filled their bags with sweets at the party.”

Good to know

'Candy' is the American collective term; the British say 'sweets'. In Britain, 'candy' appears in specific compounds like 'candyfloss' and 'candy cane' but isn't the general word.

Related comparisons

cookie/biscuitcotton candy/candy flosschips/crispspopsicle/ice lolly

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