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REFERENCE

salsa

n. · v.
US //ˈsɔɫsə// UK //sˈælsɐ// sal·sa
  1. 1 spicy sauce (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Cooking

    a spicy sauce made from tomatoes, onions, and hot peppers, usually eaten with Mexican food.

    a spicy condiment of Mexican origin, typically composed of chopped tomatoes, onions, and chillies.

    Example

    We dipped our crunchy tortilla chips into the spicy tomato salsa.

    Example

    The chef prepared a fresh mango salsa to provide a sweet and acidic contrast to the grilled sea bass.
  2. 2 music and dance (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Music

    a popular style of Latin American music and the fast, energetic dance that goes with it.

    a genre of popular Latin American music and the associated dance style, characterised by complex rhythms and Cuban influences.

    Example

    The club played loud salsa music that made everyone want to dance.

    Example

    The festival featured a live salsa band whose brass section and percussionists kept the crowd dancing until well past midnight.
    • latin music
  3. 3 to dance (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to perform the salsa dance.

    to perform the specific steps and movements associated with salsa music; used as an intransitive verb.

    Example

    The couple started to salsa as soon as the band began their first song.

    Example

    They spent the entire evening salsaing across the floor, demonstrating a level of technical skill that suggested years of formal training.
Origin

PIE word *séh₂ls Borrowed from Spanish salsa (“sauce”), from Latin salsus (“salted”), whence also the doublet sauce (via Old French).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 20, 2026