Desert vs Dessert
What's the difference?
One 's' or two? These two are only a letter apart, but one is a dry place and the other is the sweet end of a meal.
Quick answer
Dessert (two s's) is the sweet course after a meal. Desert (one s) is the dry, sandy place — or, as a verb, to abandon. Two s's = something sweet.
Compared side by side
(noun) the sweet course served at the end of a meal.
- “We had ice cream for dessert.”
- “The dessert menu looks amazing.”
- “Save room for dessert!”
(noun) a dry, sandy region; (verb) to abandon someone or something.
- “Camels live in the desert.”
- “The Sahara is the largest hot desert.”
- “He would never desert his friends.”
How to remember it
Dessert has two s's because you always want more of it (Sweet Stuff). The desert has just one — like there's only so much water.
Frequently asked
Which one has two s's?
Dessert — the sweet one. Think "Strawberry Shortcake" (two s's for something sweet). The dry desert has a single s.
Isn't 'desert' also a verb?
Yes — to desert means to abandon ("desert your post"). It's spelled like the dry place but stressed on the second syllable when spoken.