Drop in languages

Why 'drop' (and not 'liquorice')

This site is about 'drop'. 'Drop' is a Dutch word and I use this word throughout this site to indicate the difference between 'drop' and 'liquorice'. 'Liquorice' can refer to the plant, to the plant roots, to the plant root extracts or to products containing the plant root extracts. 'Drop' is soo much different. 'Drop' is only referring to the candy. A black, usually salty candy, having liquorice as an ingredient.

Réglisse

The same goes for the French word 'Réglisse'. This is also referring to the plant, the roots and the extracts. Often I had difficulties explaining that one of the ingredients of 'réglisse' is 'réglisse'. Then I found the solution. Now I simply tell my colleagues that the candy is called 'drop' and one of the ingredients is 'réglisse'.

To drop?

A small inconvenience is that 'to drop' is already an English verb. Also 'drop' on its own can be explained differently. But the advantages of using the word 'drop' instead of 'liquorice' or 'réglisse' outweight that point.

Salmiakki

An alternative for universally using 'drop' could be the Finnish 'salmiakki'. One can easily recognise the French 'sel d'amoniac' (ammonia salt) in that word. The typical 'drop'-flavour is more salty than liquorice-like. So 'salmiakki' would not be a bad choice.

But I'm Dutch, the boxes of drop write in big letters 'drop' so that seems to be the most natural choice.

How to use the word 'drop'

'Drop' is one of those special words that indicate a group of things or a substance. The word 'drop' must be used like words as 'milk' or 'people'. Don't put an 's' to the word. You don't say 'milks' or 'peoples' and following the same principle, you don't say 'drops' neither.

Dropje(s)

Here's one of the particularities of the Dutch language. In Dutch, we use the extension 'je' (or 'tje') to indicate a small size, a low importance or an understatement. 'Huis' is 'house', 'Huisje' is 'a small house'. 'Vrouw' is 'woman', 'vrouwtje' can be a 'small women' a 'not very impressive women' or a 'simple woman'.

'Drop' on itself doesn't have a size (like 'milk' or 'people' don't have a size). The extension 'je' to 'drop' transforms the generic name into a specific name. 'Dropje' indicates one individual piece of drop candy.