Confusing Words: Caramel (noun) and Carmel (noun)
Meaning:
Caramel (sugar or syrup heated until it turns brown, used as a flavouring or colouring for food or drink or combined with butter or cream to form a thick, sweet sauce.)
Carmel (A gender-neutral name of Hebrew origin)
Caramel vs Carmel Clarification:Caramel and carmel are not interchangeable.
Caramel vs Carmel – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?
Caramel and carmel are just one-letter apart but you cannot mix them up. Most people think that caramel and carmel are one word with two different spellings. It is important to keep them apart, as, nothing is similar between caramel and carmel.
Let us define these words one by one. I will use each of these words in example sentences to show you the function of these words.
Caramel
Caramel is used as a noun within sentences. It is used to refer a brown sweet or sugary syrup, which is used to give flavour or colour to food. In simple words, caramel is cooked sugar.
1. The café will charge more if you want more hot caramel over your dessert.
2. I always buy a bottle of caramel and refrigerate it to make small square candies.
3. The lightly salty caramel is touched — but just touched, mind you — with the yellow spice blend, too. (City Pages)
Carmel
Carmel is used as a proper noun within sentences. It is used to refer a city in California. Carmel is also used to refer a mountain range in Israel. In short, Carmel is used as the names for cities and many geographical locations.
1. I love New York City for its energy. Pebble Beach, Carmel Beach and that all area, for its completely laid back energy. Paris for the charm, shopping and the glamour. (Eva Larue)
2. A couple skates at Domaine de la Foret Perdu or the Lost Forest, a 9.3 mile weaving and zambonied forest trail made for skating in Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel, near Three Rivers, Quebec. (Reuters)
Got the Difference?
From the above discussion, it is clear that caramel and carmel are two different words with different spellings, meanings and functions. Also, there is a slight difference in pronunciation as well.
Caramel is pronounced as kar-a-mul, i.e. with three syllables. Carmel, on the other hand, is pronounced as kar-mul, i.e. with two syllables.
Mostly, people mix two of the above pronunciations together. This is the reason for the confusion between them. Some people think that carmel is a misspelling but in fact, it is a proper word used to indicate many locations.
What Did You Learn?
Caramel and carmel are not interchangeable. Carmel is a proper noun which is used to refer a city in California and many other geographical locations. Caramel, on the other hand, is a common noun which is a brown sweet sugary syrup or cooked sugar.
Do not mix them up, as, both are different from each other.