maalat
/maˈʔalat/
Salty in Tagalog is maalat.
The word maalat is used to describe something that tastes of salt. It can also signify a stronger level of saltiness. If you wish to emphasize an even higher level of saltiness, you can say maalat na maalat.
Meaning: tasting of salt (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word maalat is composed of the prefix ma-, which indicates a quality or state and the root word alat, meaning salt.
How do you pronounce it?
/maˈʔalat/
Did you know?
- While maalat describes the taste, the root word alat is used in the phrase alat ng buhay to describe a life full of hardships and bitterness.
- Filipinos often use the term maalat to describe the smell of dried fish, known as tuyo, even if they are not currently tasting it.
- The prefix ma- in maalat is a common feature in many Austronesian languages used to turn a noun into an adjective describing a state.
Examples in context
- Bakit maalat ang luha?Why are tears salty?This sentence is useful for asking about the saltiness of tears using maalat.Tatoeba #13876890 by qwertzu, translation #5815377 by Hybrid
- Maasim ba o maalat ang sopas mo?Is your soup sour or salty?This sentence is useful for asking if a soup is sour or salty using maalat.Tatoeba #1399871 by nonong, translation #8748724 by fishda
- Maraming pandesal ngayon ay hindi na maalat.Most salt bread nowadays is not salty anymore.This sentence is useful for noting that salt bread is no longer salty using maalat.Tatoeba #2762007 by mervert1, translation #2762009 by mervert1
- Ang ulam na ito ay masyadong maalat.This dish is too salty.
- Nangangamoy asin ang simoy ng hangin.The breeze smells like salt.
- Ang chichirya na ito ay maalat.This snack is salty.
- Ang paprikang ito ay maalat na maalat talaga!This paprika is really, really salty!
- Ang adobo na ito ay sobrang maalat! Parang dinikdik na asin ang nilagay!This adobo is extremely salty! It feels like they used crushed salt!
- Gusto ko ng kahit konting asin. Miss ko na ang lasa ng maalat!I want even just a bit of salt. I miss the taste of saltiness!
- 1 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ricardo and Jasmine are eating lunch together at home.
- RicardoJasmine, maalat ba ang niluto mong ulam?Jasmine, is the dish you cooked salty?
- JasmineHindi naman, Ricardo. Bakit mo natanong?Not really, Ricardo. Why do you ask?
- RicardoMasyado kasing maalat ang lasa para sa akin.The taste is just too salty for me.
- JasminePasensya na, dagdagan ko na lang ng tubig.I'm sorry, I'll just add some water.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “salty” translations and entries maalat, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries maalat, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
