# salsa

/ˈsɔɫsə/ (US) · /sˈælsɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/salsa
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. spicy sauce

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- We dipped our crunchy tortilla chips into the spicy tomato salsa.
- The chef prepared a fresh mango salsa to provide a sweet and acidic contrast to the grilled sea bass.

### 2. music and dance

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- The club played loud salsa music that made everyone want to dance.
- The festival featured a live salsa band whose brass section and percussionists kept the crowd dancing until well past midnight.

### 3. to dance

verb · CEFR B2

to perform the salsa dance.

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

- The couple started to salsa as soon as the band began their first song.
- They spent the entire evening salsaing across the floor, demonstrating a level of technical skill that suggested years of formal training.

## Examples

- We ate chips with fresh salsa.
- She served the grilled chicken with a spicy tomato salsa.
- The vibrant salsa added a sharp, acidic contrast to the rich, creamy texture of the avocado dip.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.