salière
feminine
The English phrase salt cellar is translated into French as salière.
A salière refers to a container used to hold salt for use in the kitchen or on a dining table.
Meaning: container holding salt for use in the kitchen or on a dining table (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is formed from the adjective salé (salty) and the suffix -ière, which is used to denote a container or tool for a specific substance.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun is feminine, which means it is used with the feminine articles la or une (for example, une salière for a salt cellar).
Did you know?
- The word salière shares a linguistic root with the English word 'salary'. Both derive from the Latin word for salt, which was once used as a form of payment for Roman soldiers.
- In French culture, overturning a salière is a well-known omen of bad luck. To cancel the jinx, the person who knocked it over must throw a pinch of salt over their left shoulder.
- Historically, the position of the salière at the table indicated a person's social rank. Sitting 'above the salt' meant being closer to the salt cellar, signifying a higher status among the guests.
Examples in context
- La salière est sur la table.The salt cellar is on the table.
- Peux-tu me passer la salière, s'il te plaît ?Can you pass me the salt cellar, please?
- J'ai acheté une jolie salière en céramique.I bought a pretty ceramic salt cellar.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Emma are having dinner at home.
- GabrielEmma, où est la salière ?Emma, where is the salt cellar?
- EmmaElle est juste à côté de ton assiette.It is right next to your plate.
- GabrielAh, je ne l'ai pas vue.Ah, I didn't see it.
- EmmaElle est devant toi, Gabriel.It is in front of you, Gabriel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “salt cellar” translations and entries salière, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries salière, CC BY-SA 4.0.
