salado
/saˈlado/
The English phrase 'savory' is translated into Spanish as salado.
In Spanish, salado is used to describe food that is salty or spicy rather than sweet.
Which one should you use?
Depending on the context, different words may be more appropriate: salado is the standard term for the savory/salty flavor profile, whereas apetitoso is used to describe a savory dish that looks particularly appetizing or tempting. If you want to express that something is savory or tasty using informal slang, you can use sabrosón.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective salado changes to salada to agree with a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/saˈlado/
Did you know?
- The word salado shares the same linguistic root as the English word 'salary'. This is because ancient soldiers were often paid in salt, which was a highly valued commodity.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, calling a person salado doesn't mean they are savory, but rather that they are 'unlucky'. It is a common way to describe someone who has a streak of bad luck.
- If you describe someone as salado in some areas, you might actually be complimenting their wit. In this context, the word implies the person is 'sharp' or possesses a clever, biting sense of humor.
Examples in context
- La sopa tiene un sabor salado y delicioso.The soup has a savory and delicious taste.
- Me gustaría probar ese guiso tan sabroso.I would like to try that savory stew.
- La paella es un plato delicioso y muy sabroso.Paella is a delicious and very savory dish.
- Prefiero un postre salado en vez de dulce.I prefer a savory dessert instead of a sweet one.
- Las aceitunas tienen un sabor salado.The olives have a savory flavor.
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are deciding what to order at a cafe.
- Lucía¿Quieres un croissant dulce o uno salado?Do you want a sweet croissant or a savory one?
- DanielCreo que prefiero algo salado hoy.I think I prefer something savory today.
- LucíaEl de queso es muy rico.The cheese one is very tasty.
- DanielPerfecto, pediré ese entonces.Perfect, I will order that then.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry salado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries salado, CC BY-SA 4.0.
