dulce

Dulce is a Spanish word meaning “sweet.” It derives from the Latin dulcis and is used in Spanish as an adjective to describe taste, as well as in various culinary and cultural expressions. In Latin, the root appears in phrases such as dulce et decorum est.

Geography and places: In the United States, the name Dulce appears in two locations. Dulce, California, is a census-designated place in Humboldt County. Dulce, New Mexico, is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Rio Arriba County, located on the Jicarilla Apache Nation Reservation.

People and usage as a name: Dulce is also a feminine given name in Spanish-speaking regions, used independently or as part of longer names.

Cultural and culinary context: The term appears in various Spanish-language culinary contexts, including desserts and confections. A widely known related term is dulce de leche, a caramel-like sweet made from milk and sugar, popular in Latin American cuisine. The root of the word also appears in classical Latin phrases that entered broader literary usage.