What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
cake
Example
I baked a delicious chocolate cake for my friend's birthday. [cake: noun]
Example
She loves to cake decorate with colorful frosting and sprinkles. [cake: verb]
pastry
Example
I had a delicious almond croissant for breakfast. [croissant: noun]
Example
She is a pastry chef and makes amazing desserts. [pastry: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Cake is more commonly used and recognized by people in everyday language, especially for special occasions and celebrations. Pastry is also common but may be less familiar to some ESL learners, as it encompasses a wider variety of baked goods.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between cake and pastry?
Both cake and pastry can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, cake is more commonly associated with celebratory and informal settings, while pastry can be used in a wider range of formal and informal situations, especially when referring to specific types of pastries like croissants or tarts.
