salé
/sa.le/
The English phrase "savory" (meaning salty or non-sweet) is translated into French as salé.
In a culinary context, salé is the standard term used to distinguish savory dishes from sweet ones. While it literally means "salty", it functions as the primary way to describe food that is not sweet.
Meaning: salty or non-sweet (adj)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective salé must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Use salée for feminine singular nouns, salés for masculine plural nouns and salées for feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables: /sa.le/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use savoureux to mean "savory" in the sense of being non-sweet. While English speakers often make this error, savoureux actually means "flavorful" or "tasty". Use salé when you want to denote the distinction between savory and sweet food.
Did you know?
- In French, the expression être salé can be used slangily to describe a price that is unexpectedly high or 'steep'.
- A person's temperament or way of speaking can be described as salé if they are being sharp, caustic or blunt.
- The traditional French mid-afternoon snack known as the goûter is culturally defined as being sucré (sweet) rather than salé.
Examples in context
- Ces hors-d'œuvre sont vraiment goûteuxThese appetizers are truly savory/tasty
- Ce plat est un peu trop salé.This dish is a little too salty.
- Je préfère les aliments salés aux desserts.I prefer savory foods to desserts.
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are choosing snacks for a party.
- HugoOn achète des chips salées ?Shall we buy some savory chips?
- ManonOui, mais prenons aussi des biscuits sucrés.Yes, but let's also get some sweet cookies.
- HugoD'accord, on a assez de choses salées alors.Okay, we have enough savory things then.
- ManonC'est parfait, Hugo !That's perfect, Hugo!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “savory” translations and entries salé, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
