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'Suite' is a set of connected rooms or related software products; 'sweet' means having a sugary taste or being charming.
Side-by-side comparison
"Suite" is a set: connected hotel rooms, a package of related software programs, or a musical composition in several movements. Pronounced "sweet", like the adjective.
They upgraded us to a penthouse suite for the anniversary trip.
The company uses the full Microsoft Office suite for all its operations.
The bridal suite was decorated with fresh flowers and champagne.
"Sweet" describes a sugary taste or something pleasant and kind. "That's so sweet" = how kind or charming. In British English, "sweets" are pieces of candy.
The mango was incredibly sweet and ripe.
That was such a sweet gesture, leaving flowers on my desk.
Home sweet home, there is nothing quite like it.
Common mistake
- •"We booked the honeymoon sweet" when meaning the hotel rooms is wrong (correct: suite).
- •And "She was very suite about it" when meaning pleasant or kind is wrong (correct: sweet).
Trick to remember it
- •"Suite" is a French loanword from "suivre" (to follow), a suite is a set of things that follow together (rooms, software programs, musical movements).
- •It is pronounced like "sweet" but spelled differently.
- •The UI combination is the French signature.
Quick rule
Is it the connected rooms, software package, or musical composition? "Suite." Is it the sugary taste or something charming? "Sweet."
Did you know?
SUITE was borrowed from French into English in the 17th century through French court culture. It comes from the verb "suivre" (to follow), a suite is a set of things that follow one another. In Baroque music, a suite was a sequence of dances in order: allemande, courante, sarabande, gigue. In software, "Adobe Creative Suite" and "Microsoft Office Suite" use the same principle: programs designed to work together. In hotels, a suite consists of connected rooms. The same concept, a set that belongs together, in three completely different domains.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
They stayed in a luxury _____ at the hotel for their anniversary.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
These strawberries are so _____ ! They're the best I've ever had.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
One means to receive or agree to something, the other means to exclude or not include.
'Advice' is the guidance you receive (noun); 'advise' is the act of giving that guidance (verb).
'Affect' is the verb meaning to influence something; 'effect' is the noun meaning result or consequence.
'Aisle' is the walkway between rows of seats or shelves; 'isle' is a small island.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy