sel
/sɛl/masculine
The French word for salt is sel.
sel is a masculine noun used to refer to sodium chloride. In scientific or formal contexts, you may see it referred to as le chlorure de sodium.
Meaning: sodium chloride (noun)
Which one should you use?
While sel is the noun for salt, the related adjective salin refers to saline or salt-related environments. To describe food that has a salty taste, use the adjective salé.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun is masculine. Use the definite article le sel when referring to salt as a specific substance or a general concept. When referring to an unspecified quantity, such as 'some salt', use the partitive article du sel. The verb saler means to add salt to something.
How do you pronounce it?
/sɛl/
Did you know?
- While salé means salty, the word salé can also be used in slang to describe something that is 'expensive' or 'high-priced'.
- In French history, the word gabelle is inextricably linked to salt because it was a deeply unpopular tax that helped spark the French Revolution.
- The English word 'salary' shares a common ancestor with the French sel, as ancient soldiers were sometimes paid in salt.
Examples in context
- Pas tant de sel !Not so much salt!This sentence is useful for expressing that there is too much sel.Tatoeba #6580895 by GB3, translation #6580859 by Eccles17
- Pas assez de sel.Not enough salt.This sentence is useful for expressing that there is not enough sel.Tatoeba #6583673 by GB3, translation #6583627 by Eccles17
- Mets plus de sel.Put more salt on it.This sentence is useful for instructing someone to add more sel.Tatoeba #11256747 by lbdx, translation #11243988 by Luornu
- Je peux avoir du sel, s'il vous plaît?Can I have some salt, please?
- Peux-tu me passer du sel?Can you pass me some salt?
- Est-ce que tu as du sel de cuisine?Do you have any cooking salt?
- 159 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Nathan are eating dinner together.
- LéaTu peux me passer le sel, s'il te plaît ?Can you pass me the salt, please?
- NathanOui, tiens, le voilà.Yes, here you go.
- LéaMerci, Nathan. Ce plat manque un peu de sel.Thanks, Nathan. This dish needs a bit more salt.
- NathanJe suis d'accord avec toi.I agree with you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “salt” translations and entries sel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
