For those that dont know the difference:

Socialist: Wants to replace capitalism entirely. The idea is that workers or the state should own the means of production (factories, land, major industries) so wealth isn’t concentrated in private hands.

Democratic Socialist: Wants to keep democracy and some market economy, but make it fairer. They push for strong social welfare, workers’ rights, public services, and limits on corporate power. Basically, capitalism with guard rails that prioritise people over profit.

To dumb it down even further, think of Democratic Socialism as what you have today in the US, but with a safety net and better start for everyone in life.

Even further for those of you with room temp IQs

Socialist = smash capitalism. Democratic Socialist = make capitalism nicer.