sweety or sweetie

Meanings

1. 1nouncountableinformal

   A word used to address someone you love or like in a friendly way, especially a partner or a child.

   Grammar: Often used as a form of address, so it can replace a name: 'Good morning, sweetie.'

   Patterns

   • Hello, sweetie
   • Thanks, sweetie

   Don't worry, sweetie, we'll find your mom.

   I'll be home by six, sweetie.

   Come here, sweetie, and let me look at that cut.

2. 2nouncountableBritishinformal

   A small piece of candy, especially a hard or chewy one.

   Grammar: Used mainly in British English for candy; in American English people usually say 'candy'.

   Patterns

   • a bag of sweeties
   • give someone a sweetie

   The child was given a sweetie for being brave at the dentist.

   He always keeps a few sweeties in his coat pocket.

   She bought a packet of sweeties for the journey.

3. 3nouncountableinformalapproving

   A very kind, gentle, or lovable person.

   Grammar: Used mainly in informal speech, often about someone who has just done something nice.

   Patterns

   • be a sweetie
   • such a sweetie

   Your brother is such a sweetie for helping us move.

   She stayed late to finish the report — what a sweetie.

   Thanks for the lift, you're a sweetie.

Word forms

Common combinations

be a sweetie

Be a sweetie and pass me the salt.

such a sweetie

He brought me soup when I was ill — such a sweetie.

a bag of sweeties

She handed out a bag of sweeties to the kids.

thanks, sweetie

Thanks, sweetie, that's really kind of you.

Synonyms and how they differ

darling

Also a loving form of address, but it can sound a little more old-fashioned or more intense than 'sweetie'.

honey

Very close in friendly, affectionate use, especially in American English; 'sweetie' can also mean a piece of candy in British English, which 'honey' does not.

dear

Used as an address for someone you care about, but it often sounds more formal or more common among older speakers.

Word family

sweet adjective

Tasting like sugar, or kind and pleasant.

sweetness noun

The quality of being sweet in taste or manner.

sweeten verb

To make something taste sweeter or to make a situation more pleasant.

Commonly confused: sweety or sweetie or sweety? sweety or sweetie or sweet?

Practice

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