What is sweet? Pronunciation and usage in English

sweet means . Learn how to pronounce and use sweet through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of sweet

sweetadjective

/swiːt/
Definition & pronunciation of sweet

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "sweet" in English. There are a couple of common pronunciations, and both are generally accepted!

1. The Most Common Pronunciation (American English):

  • ˈswiːt (stress on the first syllable)
    • ˈswiː - Pronounce this like "swee" with a long "ee" sound, as in "see" or "tree." The "ee" sound is slightly drawn out.
    • t - A simple, short "t" sound.

2. The British English Pronunciation:

  • swiːt (stress on the first syllable) - This is very similar to the American pronunciation.
  • Sometimes, you'll hear a slight 't' sound added at the end: swiːt - This is a subtle variation, and not always present.

Key Points to Remember:

  • The "ee" sound is crucial. This is the heart of the pronunciation. Practice saying "see," "tree," "meet," and "eat."
  • Don't over-emphasize the 't'. It's a very quick and subtle sound.

Resources for Hearing the Pronunciation:

  • Google: Just type "how to pronounce sweet" into Google, and you'll see audio examples.
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/sweet/ - This website has pronunciations from native speakers.
  • Youglish: https://youglish.com/w/sweet - This shows you how the word is pronounced in real-world YouTube videos.

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • Where are you from? (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Australia, etc.) Knowing your native language can help me understand any potential pronunciation challenges you might have.

Usage and examples with the word sweet in English

Let's break down how to use the word "sweet" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with multiple meanings and uses! Here's a categorized breakdown:

1. Describing Taste (Most Common)

  • As an adjective describing food and drink: This is the most frequent use.
    • "This cake is sweet." (It has a lot of sugar.)
    • "I love sweet tea."
    • "She likes sweet desserts."
    • "They added honey to make it extra sweet."

2. Describing Personality & Behavior

  • As an adjective describing a person’s demeanor: “Sweet” is often used to describe someone who is kind, gentle, and pleasant.
    • “She’s such a sweet girl.”
    • “He was incredibly sweet and helpful.”
    • “My grandmother is a very sweet woman.”
    • "That was a sweet gesture." (Meaning kind and thoughtful)

3. Figurative Language – "Sweet" as a Compliment

  • To express affection or admiration: Sometimes, "sweet" is used to say someone is lovely or delightful in a general way.
    • "That’s a sweet idea!" (Meaning: “That’s a good idea!”)
    • “You look sweet today!” (Meaning: "You look lovely!")

4. Other Uses & Less Common Meanings

  • “Sweet” as “Easy” or “Simple”: (Informal)

    • "This test was sweet - it only had a few questions." (Meaning: “It was easy.”)
    • "The solution was sweet." (Meaning: "It was simple to find.")

  • “Sweet” as “Reward” or “Compensation”: (Often used in legal or business contexts)

    • “He received a sweet deal on the property.” (Meaning: “He got a good price.”)
    • “The company offered him a sweet bonus.” (Meaning: “He received a generous bonus.”)

  • “Sweet dreams”: A common phrase wishing someone a good night. “Sweet dreams!”

Tips for Using "Sweet" Effectively:

  • Context is key: The meaning of "sweet" changes dramatically depending on the situation. Pay attention to how it's being used by native speakers.
  • Tone: “Sweet” often conveys a gentle, positive, and warm feeling.
  • Don’t overuse it: While it’s a pleasant word, using “sweet” too frequently can sound cloying or overly sentimental.

Resources for More Examples:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of context are you interested in? (e.g., describing food, talking about people, a specific situation?)

Synonyms for the word sweet

Idioms of the word sweet

be sweet on somebody
(old-fashioned, informal)to like somebody very much in a romantic way
    have a sweet tooth
    (informal)to like food that contains a lot of sugar
      home sweet home
      (often ironic)used to say how pleasant your home is (especially when you really mean that it is not pleasant at all)
        in your own sweet time/way
        how and when you want to, even though this might annoy other people
        • He always does the work, but in his own sweet time.
        • She just ignores all the criticism and continues in her own sweet way.
        keep somebody sweet
        (informal)to say or do pleasant things in order to keep somebody in a good mood so that they will agree to do something for you
        • You’d better keep her sweet if you want her to lend you the money.
        a rose by any other name would smell as sweet
        (saying)what is important is what people or things are, not what they are called
          she’s sweet
          (Australian English, New Zealand English, informal)everything is all right
            short and sweet
            (informal)pleasant but not lasting a long time
            • We haven't much time so I'll keep it short and sweet.
            sweet FA | sweet Fanny Adams
            (British English, informal)nothing at all. People say ‘sweet FA’ to avoid saying ‘fuck all’.
              sweet nothings
              romantic words
              • to whisper sweet nothings in somebody’s ear
              the sweet smell of success
              (informal)the pleasant feeling of being successful

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