Word
salty
US/ˈsɔɫti/
UK/sˈɒlti/
Definitions
01tasting of salt
A2 · Elementary
adj. tasting of or containing a lot of salt.
adj. containing, tasting of, or preserved with salt.
日本語:塩辛い※
“The soup was too salty for me to finish, so I asked for some water.”
“The chef warned that the cured ham was naturally salty and required no additional seasoning before being served with the melon.”
02annoyed or bitter
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal · Slang
adj. feeling annoyed, angry, or bitter, especially about something that is not very important.
adj. characterised by resentment, irritation, or bitterness, typically following a minor defeat or perceived slight.
Español:picón
“He was still salty about losing the video game even though it was just for fun.”
“She seemed a bit salty after the meeting, likely because her proposal was the only one the committee rejected without discussion.”
03coarse or provocative
C1 · Advanced Informal
adj. using language that is a bit rude, shocking, or funny in a rough way.
adj. referring to language or humour that is coarse, earthy, or mildly provocative.
“The old sailor told some salty stories about his time at sea.”
“The comedian's salty language was a hit with the late-night crowd, though it proved too controversial for the afternoon television slot.”
04experienced sailor
C2 · Proficiency Informal
adj. having a lot of experience, especially as a sailor who has spent years at sea.
adj. possessing significant experience or veteran status, particularly within naval or maritime contexts.
“The salty old captain knew exactly how to handle the ship during the storm.”
“A few salty veterans remained at the shipyard, offering technical advice that the younger engineers had yet to master through formal training.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “salty” in context.
Real-World Examples
“In Andalusia and the islands tap water can have a slightly salty taste as a lot of it comes from desalinisation plants.” “Rahmstorf puts it more simply: "We have this AMOC because it's salty enough in the North Atlantic.” Etymology
PIE word *séh₂ls From Middle English salti, equivalent to salt + -y. Compare Saterland Frisian soaltig (“salty”), West Frisian sâltich (“salty”), Dutch zoutig (“salty”), German Low German soltig (“salty”), German salzig (“salty”). (coarse; irritated, annoyed): Referencing the sharp, 'spicy' flavor of salt. (indignant): Perhaps implying the person is a crybaby, shedding salty tears, or derived from the preceding.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
01. jump salty
02. salty tooth
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/salty
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0