noun
dulcinea
duhl-sih-NEE-uh
Dulcinea (noun) means a sweetheart or beloved woman, especially an idealized one. Example: “He wrote poems to his dulcinea back home.”
noun
1
A sweetheart or beloved woman, especially an idealized one.
"He wrote poems to his dulcinea back home."
How to use dulcinea
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA literary or old-fashioned word for a sweetheart, often one romanticized more than she deserves.
When to use it
Literary/archaic; rarely used in everyday speech.
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Word forms
- Plural
- dulcineas
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He wrote poems to his _____ back home.
Etymology
From Dulcinea, the name of the noblewoman Don Quixote idolizes (though he barely knows her) in Cervantes' novel Don Quixote — itself derived from Latin dulcis, "sweet."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for dulcinea
See all rhymes for dulcinea →Frequently asked questions
What does “dulcinea” mean?
The word “dulcinea” means a sweetheart or beloved woman, especially an idealized one. In plain terms, a literary or old-fashioned word for a sweetheart, often one romanticized more than she deserves.
How do you pronounce “dulcinea”?
“Dulcinea” is pronounced duhl-sih-NEE-uh (/ˌdʌlsɪˈniːə/ in IPA).
How do you use “dulcinea” in a sentence?
Here is “dulcinea” used in a sentence: “He wrote poems to his dulcinea back home.”
What part of speech is “dulcinea”?
“Dulcinea” is a noun.
Where does the word “dulcinea” come from?
The word “dulcinea” comes from Latin. From Dulcinea, the name of the noblewoman Don Quixote idolizes (though he barely knows her) in Cervantes' novel Don Quixote — itself derived from Latin dulcis, "sweet.".
