eau salée
The English phrase salt water is translated into French as eau salée.
The term eau salée is used to refer to any water containing dissolved salt.
Meaning: any water containing dissolved salt (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the noun eau (water) and the adjective salée (salty).
Which one should you use?
To express the opposite of salt water (fresh water), use eau douce (literally 'sweet water').
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective salée must agree in gender with the feminine noun eau.
Did you know?
- The word salée comes from the same root as the English word 'salary', which originally referred to the money given to Roman soldiers to buy salt.
- The word eau is derived from the Latin aqua, which is why it sounds so different from its Latin root but shares the same origin as the Spanish agua.
- While eau salée is the literal term for salt water, the French use the term eau de mer specifically to describe seawater.
Examples in context
- Je n'aime pas nager dans l'eau salée.I don't like swimming in salt water.This sentence shows how to express a dislike for swimming in eau salée.Tatoeba #7497798 by tras, translation #7497190 by CK
- Est-il possible de boire de l'eau salée ?Is it possible to drink salt water?This sentence asks about the possibility of drinking eau salée.Tatoeba #1711405 by sacredceltic, translation #1689861 by Spamster
- Tu préfères nager en eau douce ou en eau salée ?Do you prefer swimming in fresh water or salt water?This sentence presents a choice between swimming in fresh water or eau salée.Tatoeba #11138660 by lbdx, translation #10153587 by CK
- J'ai accidentellement avalé de l'eau salée en nageant dans l'océan.I accidentally swallowed salt water while swimming in the ocean.
- Nous avons utilisé de l'eau salée pour désinfecter la plaie.We used salt water to disinfect the wound.
- J'aime sentir l'odeur de l'eau de mer.I love the smell of saltwater.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are talking about their beach vacation.
- GabrielL'eau salée pique un peu les yeux.The salt water stings the eyes a bit.
- ManonC'est vrai, Manon a raison.That's true, Manon is right.
- GabrielJe vais me rincer avec de l'eau douce.I am going to rinse myself with fresh water.
- ManonMoi aussi, l'eau salée me gratte la peau.Me too, the salt water makes my skin itchy.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry eau salée, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
