What does sundae mean?
A sundae is a dessert made from ice cream and sweet toppings such as fruit syrup, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, nuts, or sprinkles. The word is particularly common in North America, where it appears on restaurant menus and in descriptions of ice-cream parlours, though it is now understood widely in English. A sundae can be served in a dish, bowl, glass, or specially designed sundae cup, and its toppings may be arranged to create contrasting colors and textures. The name developed from Sunday, because ice cream was traditionally associated with Sunday meals and outings. Today, “sundae” generally refers to the finished dessert rather than to the ice cream alone, although “ice-cream sundae” is also common. The word is useful for distinguishing a decorated ice-cream dessert from a plain cone or scoop.
nounA dessert of ice cream served with syrup, fruit, whipped cream, sprinkles, or other toppings. The term may also refer to the combination of ice cream and toppings itself.
- A dessert consisting of ice cream, usually topped with syrup, fruit, whipped cream, sprinkles, or similar accompaniments.
"We shared a chocolate sundae after dinner."
"The café offers a wide range of sundaes, including fruit and chocolate varieties."
"She ordered a sundae with hot fudge and a cherry on top."
The standard plural is sundaes, pronounced with the same /ˈsʌndeɪ/ pattern and a final /z/.
"The menu lists several sundaes for children and adults."
A sundae owes its name to Sunday, when ice cream was traditionally served as a special treat.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sundae come from?
The word sundae is an alteration of Sunday, referring to the tradition of serving ice cream on Sundays. Sunday itself comes from Old English sunnandæg, literally “the sun's day,” and is named for the sun. The modern dessert name developed in the United States during the 19th century and became established in the 20th century.
Related word forms
How sundae is actually used
The word is especially associated with North American restaurant and ice-cream parlour menus. In British English, Sunday has also been used for an ice-cream dish, but sundae is now the usual term in international menus.
Easily confused with sundae
Sunday is the day of the week, while a sundae is an ice-cream dessert whose name comes from Sunday.