¿Helado o Helados?

Question

Dears,

I once read : "Me gusta el dulce y sobre todo, los helados".

My question is: Does ice-cream in Spanish comes in plural only or not? in the dictionary, there is el helado (singular), but why it was used in plural in the above sentence?

If the answer that it comes in plural (if possible, I don't know), is there any other words that follow the same rule? is there any list?

Thanks.

" come " in plural . why " was it used " the last sentence " it comes in plural is correct" " are there any words" - ray76, Jan 30, 2012

In may be to refer to all the different flavors of ice cream (usually the plural meaning of uncountable nouns). - 0074b507, Jan 30, 2012

Answer 1

As I often comment regarding the names for foodstuffs, things can and go by different names in different countries and regions.

People in Venezuela talk about: vamos a comer helado. Evidently the use the same expression in Colombia. In Ecuador is "comer helados". In Puerto Rico it is usual to talk about "vamos a comer un mantecado / unos mantecados". In Mexico they use "nieves". So there are no absolutes, you may hear different things depending on where you are and who is talking to you!

Answer 2

The sentence may be:

Me gusta el dulce (de leche únicamente) y sobre todo, los helados (chocolate, fresa, vainilla, etc.)

But if the person only like 1 candy and 1 ice-cream:

Me gusta el dulce (de leche únicamente) y el helado (de chocolate únicamente)

But if the person like many candies and many ice-creams:

Me gustaN LOS dulceS (de leche, de naranja, etc.) y LOS heladoS (de chocolate, de fresa, de vainilla, etc.)

Note: Wilcoof is a native Spanish (Colombian) speaker. - Xocoyote, Jan 30, 2012

Funciona igual en Venezuela. Pero hay países donde se comen helados, aunque sea uno solo :-) - Gekkosan, Jan 30, 2012

Answer 3

We could say the same in English

I like sweets (candy) and above all, ice cream or (ice creams)

My old dad always said , " I scream , you scream , we all scream for ice cream. " - ray76, Jan 30, 2012

There is a "Jazz" song "I scream, You scream. everyone wants ice cream" :) - ian-hill, Jan 30, 2012

Answer 4

They both mean the same thing...