salé
/sa.le/
The English word 'salty' is translated into French as salé.
The primary use of salé is to describe something that has a taste of salt. However, in a colloquial context, salé can also be used to describe something that is overpriced or expensive.
Meaning: tasting of salt (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective salé changes its ending depending on the gender and number of the noun it describes: it becomes salée for feminine nouns, salés for masculine plural nouns and salées for feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /sa.le/.
Did you know?
- The word salé shares the same Latin root, 'sal', as the English word 'salary', which originally referred to the salt given to soldiers.
- French speakers use salé to describe a meal's type, creating a strict binary between salé and sucré (sweet) that governs the order of courses in a traditional menu.
- In some slang contexts, salé can describe a person's behavior or a remark that is 'salty' in the sense of being harsh, biting or sarcastic.
Examples in context
- C'est un peu salé.This is a little salty.This sentence is useful for describing how much salt is in something using the form salé.Tatoeba #7695311 by Maxence, translation #4124407 by cy3
- La salade est très salée.The salad is very salty.Tatoeba #3314841 by Malape, translation #2889823 by AlanF_US
- Cette eau est un peu salée.This water is a little salty.Tatoeba #1579707 by sacredceltic, translation #58289 by CK
- Cette soupe est trop salée.This soup is too salty.
- Ce plat est peu salé.This dish is not very salty.
- 41 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Hugo are eating at a restaurant.
- EmmaCe plat est trop salé.This dish is too salty.
- HugoVraiment ? Je ne trouve pas ça salé.Really? I don't find it salty.
- EmmaPour moi, c'est vraiment très salé.For me, it is really very salty.
- HugoTu devrais demander un peu d'eau.You should ask for some water.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “salty” translations and entries salé, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries salé, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
