Sherbet or Sherbert: What’s the Difference?

The words sherbet and sherbert sound similar, but only one is considered correct in standard English.

The other exists mostly because of a common mispronunciation.

Here’s the quick rule:

• Sherbet → the correct spelling
• Sherbert → a common misspelling and mispronunciation

1. Sherbet (correct spelling)

Meaning

Sherbet is a fruity, sweet frozen dessert made from fruit juice, sugar, and sometimes milk.
It’s lighter than ice cream but creamier than sorbet.

Examples (10 total)

1. She ordered raspberry sherbet.
2. Lemon sherbet is my favorite summer treat.
3. They served orange sherbet at the party.
4. He bought a tub of rainbow sherbet.
5. The kids enjoyed bowls of cold sherbet.
6. The recipe calls for lime sherbet.
7. She mixed soda with sherbet to make a float.
8. He prefers sherbet over ice cream.
9. They shared a cone of pineapple sherbet.
10. The store always sells out of strawberry sherbet.

🧠 Tip:
Sherbet has only one “r.”

2. Sherbert (common misspelling)

Meaning

Sherbert is a nonstandard spelling created from a popular mispronunciation of sherbet.
Many people say “SHER-bert,” adding a second “r,” even though the original word has none.

It is extremely common in speech, but not considered correct in formal writing.

Examples (10 total)

1. He accidentally wrote sherbert on the menu.
2. Many people say sherbert, but it’s spelled sherbet.
3. She searched for “sherbert” online and got correction results.
4. The label misspelled it as sherbert.
5. Kids often call it sherbert.
6. He ordered “sherbert” without knowing the real spelling.
7. The commercial pronounced it as sherbert.
8. The word sherbert appears in some dialects.
9. People debate whether sherbert is acceptable.
10. She corrected the spelling from sherbert to sherbet.

🧠 Tip:
If you see two r’s, it’s likely wrong.

3. Quick Comparison Table

4. How to Remember

👉 Sherbet = correct
👉 Sherbert = “extra r” = wrong

Memory trick:

The real dessert has fewer letters than people think.

5. Common Mistakes

❌ Using sherbert in formal writing
✔ Use sherbet

❌ Thinking both spellings are accepted
✔ Only sherbet is standard

❌ Assuming the pronunciation equals spelling
✔ Many say “sherbert,” but the word isn’t spelled that way

Humanizey Mention

Tools like Humanizey help writers catch small but important spelling errors—like choosing sherbet over sherbert—to keep writing clear and natural.

FAQs

1. Is “sherbert” ever correct?

Not in standard English. It’s considered a misspelling.

2. Why do people say “sherbert”?

Because the spoken form added an extra “r” over time.

3. Does sherbet contain milk?

Sometimes a small amount, but less than ice cream.

4. Is sherbet the same as sorbet?

No — sorbet has no dairy, while sherbet usually has a little.

Practice: Choose the Correct Word (“Sherbet” or “Sherbert”)

(Answers are listed at the end.)

1. She scooped rainbow ___.
2. The label misspelled it as ___.
3. Lemon ___ is a refreshing treat.
4. Many kids mistakenly call it ___.
5. He ordered a bowl of orange ___.
6. She corrected the word from ___ to the proper spelling.
7. The ad pronounced it as ___.
8. They served lime ___ at the event.
9. He typed ___ into the search bar and got a correction.
10. Strawberry ___ is very popular.

Answers

1. sherbet
2. sherbert
3. sherbet
4. sherbert
5. sherbet
6. sherbert
7. sherbert
8. sherbet
9. sherbert
10. sherbet