asin
/ʔaˈsin/
The Tagalog word for salt is asin.
The word asin is used to refer to salt in a general culinary sense, as well as specifically to table salt.
Meaning: sodium chloride (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/ʔaˈsin/
Did you know?
- In some traditional folk beliefs, scattering asin is thought to ward off evil spirits or protect a household from bad luck.
- The word asin is a linguistic relic shared across a vast region, appearing in languages as distant as Fijian masima and Malay asin.
- In Filipino culture, the phrase asinan can mean both to add salt to food and to treat a wound with salt.
Examples in context
- Paabot po ng asin.Will you please pass me the salt?This sentence is useful for asking someone to pass the asin.Tatoeba #11270322 by qwertzu, translation #6348394 by CK
- Dagdagan mo ng asin.Add some salt.This sentence is useful for instructing someone to add more asin.Tatoeba #11396487 by qwertzu, translation #7955182 by CK
- Pakiabot nga ng asin?Can you pass me the salt, please?This sentence is useful for a polite request to pass the asin.Tatoeba #1881316 by nonong, translation #25735 by CK
- ipasa mo ang asinPass the salt
- dagdagan mo ng asinAdd more salt
- 24 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maria and Jose are in the kitchen preparing a meal.
- MariaMay asin ba tayo?Do we have any salt?
- JoseOo, nasa cabinet ang asin.Yes, the salt is in the cabinet.
- MariaSige, kukunin ko lang.Okay, I will just get it.
- JoseHuwag mong masyadong damihan.Don't put too much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “salt” translations and entries asin, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries asin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
