Editor's Corner

On my way to work this morning, the radio DJs were discussing National Hot Fudge Sundae Day and having a debate over the best ice cream topping. I noticed that one DJ pronounced the word caramel as CAR-MULL and another DJ pronounced it as CARE-UH-MELL.

I found caramel on this pronunciation map, which shows that the pronunciation of the word varies by state.

Here’s the etymology for caramel:

caramel (n.)

1725, from French caramel “burnt sugar” (17c.), via Old Spanish caramel (modern caramello), ultimately from Medieval Latin cannamellis, traditionally from Latin canna (see cane (n.)) + mellis, genitive of mel “honey” (see Melissa). But some give the Medieval Latin word an Arabic origin, or trace it to Latin calamus “reed, cane.”

On a side note, the word Carmel, is a geographical name and is pronounced as kär-ˈmelˈor kär-məl.

Jackie Solano | Technical Editor | Symitar®

8985 Balboa Ave. | San Diego, CA 92123 | Ph. 619.542.6711 | Extension: 766711

Symitar Documentation Services