sal y pimienta
/sal i pimjenta/from spelling rules
The English phrase "salt and pepper" is translated into Spanish as sal y pimienta.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a literal combination of sal (salt) and pimienta (pepper).
How does it change in a sentence?
The conjunction y (and) remains y in this phrase because pimienta starts with the letter 'p'. In Spanish, the conjunction y changes to e if the following word starts with the sound /i/ (written as 'i' or 'hi').
Did you know?
- The word pimienta shares a root with the English word 'pigment'. This is because the ancient Romans used the word pigmentum to describe any coloring agent, including the colorful berries of the pepper plant.
- If a Spanish speaker describes a conversation as con sal, they mean it is witty or spirited. It treats 'salt' as a metaphor for flavor and zest in personality.
- Spanish speakers use the word pimiento for bell peppers and pimienta for the spice. Using the wrong one could lead to a confusing request for a bowl of whole vegetables instead of a shaker of spice.
Examples in context
- Por favor, dame sal y pimienta.Please give me salt and pepper.Tatoeba #1211834 by marcelostockle, translation #751758 by Darkmaster
- Condimenté el pescado con sal y pimienta.I seasoned the fish with salt and pepper.Tatoeba #1266949 by hayastan, translation #19360 by CK
- Creo que sabrá mejor si le añades un poco de sal y pimienta.I think it'll taste better if you add a little salt and pepper.Tatoeba #7843389 by arh, translation #7839457 by CK
- Voy a llenar el salero y el pimentero.I am going to fill the salt shaker and the pepper shaker.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are eating dinner at a restaurant.
- Alejandro¿Me pasas la sal y pimienta, por favor?Can you pass me the salt and pepper, please?
- LucíaSí, aquí tienes, Alejandro.Yes, here you go, Alejandro.
- AlejandroGracias, Lucía. La sopa necesita sal y pimienta.Thanks, Lucía. The soup needs salt and pepper.
- LucíaTienes razón, yo también le pondré un poco.You're right, I'll add some too.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pimienta, sal, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
