sel
/sɛl/
sel is the French word for salt.
sel refers to salt. You may encounter the phrase pincée de sel, which means a pinch of salt.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun sel is masculine, so it is used with the masculine article le to form le sel.
How do you pronounce it?
/sɛl/
Did you know?
- Historically, the word 'sel' shares a common ancestor with the English word 'salary', because Roman soldiers were often paid in salt or money to purchase it.
- In French culture, spilling sel is traditionally seen as a sign of bad luck, and one should throw a pinch over their left shoulder to ward off the omen.
- The phrase avoir du sel can be used colloquially to describe someone who has spirit, wit or a sparkling personality.
Examples in context
- Passe-moi le sel, s'il te plaît.Pass me the salt, please.
- Il y a trop de sel dans la soupe.There is too much salt in the soup.
- Je n'ai plus de sel sur la table.I have no more salt on the table.
Example conversation
A couple is having dinner at the dining table.
- HugoEmma, est-ce que tu peux me donner le sel ?Emma, can you give me the salt?
- EmmaBien sûr, le voici, Hugo.Of course, here it is, Hugo.
- HugoMerci, ce plat manque un peu de sel.Thanks, this dish lacks a little salt.
- EmmaJe vais en rajouter un peu alors.I will add a little more then.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry sel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
