salvia
/ˈsalbja/
In Spanish, sage is salvia.
The word salvia refers to the herb (Salvia officinalis). While the English word 'sage' can mean both the plant and a person who is wise, the Spanish word salvia is used specifically for the plant.
Meaning: wise (adj)
Which one should you use?
The word salvia refers specifically to the herb. If you wish to describe a person as 'wise', you should use the adjective sabio or the noun sabio (a very wise person or philosopher) instead.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, Salvia is a common way to refer to sage.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsalbja/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use salvia to mean 'wise' because of the English word 'sage', but in Spanish, salvia only refers to the plant.
Did you know?
- In some traditional Spanish folk medicine, salvia is believed to be a 'feminine' herb, often used specifically for ailments related to the female reproductive system and menopause.
- The word salvia comes from the Latin ‘salvere’, which means 'to be healthy' or 'to heal'.
- An English speaker might try to say 'un hombre salvia' to mean 'a sage man', but a native speaker would only hear 'a herb man'.
Examples in context
- ¿Es la salvia medicinal?Is sage medicinal?This sentence is useful for asking if salvia has medicinal properties.Tatoeba #6397653 by mervert1, translation #6389624 by mervert1
- Estoy tomando té con salvia.I'm drinking sage tea.This sentence is useful for mentioning that you are drinking tea containing salvia.Tatoeba #6397636 by mervert1, translation #6389621 by mervert1
- ¿Le has añadido salvia a la pasta?Did you put sage in the pasta?This sentence is useful for asking if salvia was added to a pasta dish.Tatoeba #6389625 by mervert1, translation #6389623 by mervert1
- El profesor es un sabio en su campoThe professor is a sage in his field
- Me encanta el sabor que la salvia le da a la comidaI love the flavor that sage gives to food
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are discussing a historical figure.
- LucíaElla era una mujer muy salvia y respetada.She was a very wise and respected woman.
- AlejandroSí, sus consejos siempre eran los mejores.Yes, her advice was always the best.
- LucíaEs difícil encontrar una mente tan salvia hoy.It is difficult to find such a wise mind today.
- AlejandroTienes razón, Lucía, ella era especial.You are right, Lucía, she was special.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry salvia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries salvia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
