Difference Between Desert and Dessert

The word desert and dessert, often look alike, but there is a slight difference in their spelling, meaning and even pronunciation. Desert implies a hot and sandy region, where there is a lack of water, due to which life is quite difficult there. It may also mean to run away from a situation.

On the contrary, Dessert implies a sweet cuisine, which is usually eaten after lunch or dinner. The examples given below will help you to understand the difference between these two:

• After having dessert, the group decided to visit the Thar desert.
• When the function is over, dessert is served to all the guests and after an hour or so, everyone deserted the hall.

In these two examples, you might have observed that the word dessert has only one meaning in both the sentences, i.e. the confectionary item. As against, desert in the first example means the vast arid region, whereas in the second case, it means leave (left).

Content: Desert Vs Dessert

1. Comparison Chart
2. Definition
3. Key Differences
4. Examples
5. How to remember the difference

Comparison Chart

Basis for Comparison	Desert	Dessert
Meaning	Desert refers to a very hot barren land covered with sand or rock, having little or no vegetation.	Dessert refers to confection, i.e. a sweet dish eaten at the end of the meal.
Part of Speech	Noun and Verb	Noun
Pronunciation	ˈdez.ət	dɪˈzɜːt
Stresses on	First Syllable	Second Syllable

Definition of Desert

The word ‘desert’ is primarily used as a noun, which implies a very hot and dry region covered with sand or rocks wherein there is lack of water because there is very little rainfall in the area and so the living conditions are not suitable or favourable for the living beings. For example Sahara Desert, Thar Desert, Atacama Desert.

Further, When it is used as a verb, it is pronounced as “dessert”, but spelt like “desert”, which refers to abandon someone. The points given below will help you to use them correctly, take a look:

As a noun:

1. To indicate an arid and hot place, where there is no or little precipitation, often covered by sand or rocks:
   • She went to visit Sahara desert last year in April.
   • The Kalahari Desert is situated in South Africa.

As a verb:

1. To run away from the armed from, without permission, having no intention of coming back:
   • There are a number of soldiers who desert from the armed forces every year.
   • The commandos who deserted the army were caught last night.
2. To leave someone behind in a hard time, without any intention of returning back:
   • The soldier deserted his family and children, to serve the nation.
   • All my friends deserted me when I was in trouble.

Definition of Dessert

Dessert refers to the course that is eaten at the end of the meal, which is normally a sweet dish. It mainly includes confections like biscuits, cookies, cakes, chocolates, candies, pastries, ice cream, pies, mousse, custards, puddings, etc. However, fruits and beverages are also served as desserts.

For example:

• We don’t think the desserts are enough for the party.
• The restaurant is well known for its desserts, especially the flan.
• Would you like to have sweet soup for the desserts?
• The presentation of dessert was amazing.
• Baklava is the most popular dessert in Turkey.

Examples

Desert

• Ravin wants to visit deserts, at least once in his life.
• It was painful to see youngsters deserting the city for better jobs in another one.
• Cactus plants are found in deserts.

Dessert

• I forgot to serve the dessert at lunch.
• My mom made an apple pie for the dessert.
• For dessert, there is a cake and chocolate mousse.

How to remember the difference

Both desert and dessert are nouns, wherein one indicates a dry place while the other indicates a sweet dish offered as the last course of the meal. Further, the desert can also mean abandon, when used as a verb.