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Mr. Tom Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Special name of the things young kids like to eat

Hi

Do English speaking kids refer to the things they like to eat (toffees, candies, lollipops, chocolates, chips, etc) with a special name? In Pakistan, they use a special name for such stuff.

Mama, I want __________________.

(...and it could be a biscuit, lollipop, chocolates, etc)

Thanks,

Tom
  

Top answer

I'm not sure there's any single word for that. "), but again it doesn't seem to exactly fit your sentence. In the UK, most sweet things that children like (but not biscuits or cakes) would come in the category of "sweets".

— GPY

  • I'm not sure there's any single word for that.
  • "), but again it doesn't seem to exactly fit your sentence.
  • In the UK, most sweet things that children like (but not biscuits or cakes) would come in the category of "sweets".
  • " Maybe someone else can think of some further suggestions.
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12 Answers
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I'm not sure there's any single word for that. "treat" could mean any sweet or snack that the child likes, but a child is not very likely, so it seems to me, to say "I want a treat!" Nice things to eat could be called "goodies" ("Kids, I've got some goodies!"), but again it doesn't seem to exactly fit your sentence. In the UK, most sweet things that children like (but not biscuits or cakes) would
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How about a snack? Generically, they are not necessarily sweet.
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Mr. TomDo English speaking kids refer to the things they like to eat
Junk food.
Kids love this stuff because it is full of sugar, fat, and / or salt. It tastes very good.
But "junk" means that it is not very good for you. People who eat junk food are likely to be obese and unhealthy.
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Many thanks!

So which one of these sounds most natural to native ears?

Mama, I want goodies.
Mama, I want a treat.
Mama, I want a snack.
Mama, I want junk food.

Tom
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They don't ask for "junk food"! That would make the parents feel guilty about giving it to them. Usually, they would ask for a treat or a snack.
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In the US, chocolate, lollipops etc. are candy, in they UK they are sweets (or sweeties in child talk). Biscuits (cookies in the US) are not called candy/sweets.
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Mr. TomMama, I want goodies.Mama, I want a treat.Mama, I want a snack.Mama, I want junk food.
By the way, in the UK, "Mama" sounds foreign or old-fashioned upper class.
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GPY Mr. TomMama, I want goodies.Mama, I want a treat.Mama, I want a snack.Mama, I want junk food.By the way, in the UK, "Mama" sounds foreign or old-fashioned upper class.
Interesting.

So which word? Mother, Mommy?

Tom
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Mr. TomSo which word? Mother, Mommy?
Colloquially, the most usual forms of address in the UK are "Mum" or (childish) "Mummy". "Mother" feels more staid.

"Mom" and "Mommy" are American.
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In the US you may hear Mama used, but it is pronounced mam?, not the upper class British m?'m?.
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