caramella

candy, sweet

noun kah-rah-MEL-lah Rare

Origin: From Spanish caramelo, ultimately from medieval Latin cannamellis, 'sugar cane'.

Usage Note

Caramella means a hard candy or boiled sweet in Italian — not chocolate (il cioccolatino) or a caramel dessert (il caramello). The false friend to watch: caramel in English can refer to the sauce, which in Italian is il caramello. The plural le caramelle is regular.

Examples

"La nonna dava sempre una caramella ai nipoti."

Natural Translation

Grandma always gave the grandchildren a candy.

Free starter pack

Building your Italian vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Italian words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

Italian Articles: Il, Lo, La, I, Gli, Le Explained

Italian has seven words for 'the' — il, lo, la, i, gli, le — but it's two questions, not seven cases. Master gender, sound, and the lo/gli rule fast.

June 5, 2026 7 min read

ItalianNow

Ti Amo vs Ti Voglio Bene: I Love You in Italian

Ti amo is romantic love; ti voglio bene is tender affection for family and close friends. Here's exactly who to say each phrase to in Italian.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Reflexive Verbs: Mi Chiamo, Mi Alzo & More

Italian reflexive verbs use mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si — learn the pronouns, conjugate chiamarsi and alzarsi, master your daily routine, and the modal-verb rule.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

How to Order Coffee in Italy Like a Local

Order coffee in Italy like a local: say un caffè (not espresso), pay at the cassa first, drink al banco, and skip the latte trap. Phrases inside.

June 5, 2026 6 min read