Translation: Candy – Candy in Different Languages
The English word candy is derived from the Persian word for sugar cube and has come to be associated with any sugar or chocolate confection. But would candy by any other name taste as sweet? The French word for candy is bonbon. That definitely still sounds sweet and tempting but so does practically every French word. How about the word for German candy? Sigkeiten initially looks a bit tricky and harsh but broken down this word for candy becomes more manageable, pronounced something like sooobzig keiyten it is perhaps the German word equivalent of a gobstopper! Caramelle, the Italian word for candy is of course more familiar and thus a bit easier to swallow. Italian candy would definitely still taste as sweet.
Moving continents the Arabic word for candy is halwa which is of course the word from which halva, sweet confections from across the Asian continent, is derived. That makes it pretty sweet. The Spanish have two common words for candy and they are dulce and caramello. With the word caramello of course the Latin language influence is as apparent as with the Italian word for candy. Dulce is a bit different but if pronounced properly and with flourish exudes a very nice flavor indeed. The Hebrew sucariah is an obvious root word for the English sugar which is of course the best vital ingredient in all candy so candy in Hebrew definitely ranks as candy that would taste as sweet.
The most beautiful thing about candy on an international scale is that every single country has, regardless of what it is or how it sounds, a word for candy. On a parting note here are a few more for you to wrap your lips around and sink your teeth into! In the Philippines candy is minatamis or kendi, in China it's tang, in Dutch snoep and in Hindi, chahiye. Wherever you are in the world and however you say it, we hope your candy is as sweet as ours is!