salty
- 01 A2 Elementary
tasting of or containing a lot of salt.
containing, tasting of, or preserved with salt.
Simple“The soup was too salty for me to finish, so I asked for some water.”
In context“The chef warned that the cured ham was naturally salty and required no additional seasoning before being served with the melon.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
feeling annoyed, angry, or bitter, especially about something that is not very important.
characterised by resentment, irritation, or bitterness, typically following a minor defeat or perceived slight.
Simple“He was still salty about losing the video game even though it was just for fun.”
In context“She seemed a bit salty after the meeting, likely because her proposal was the only one the committee rejected without discussion.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
using language that is a bit rude, shocking, or funny in a rough way.
referring to language or humour that is coarse, earthy, or mildly provocative.
Simple“The old sailor told some salty stories about his time at sea.”
In context“The comedian's salty language was a hit with the late-night crowd, though it proved too controversial for the afternoon television slot.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
having a lot of experience, especially as a sailor who has spent years at sea.
possessing significant experience or veteran status, particularly within naval or maritime contexts.
Simple“The salty old captain knew exactly how to handle the ship during the storm.”
In context“A few salty veterans remained at the shipyard, offering technical advice that the younger engineers had yet to master through formal training.”
Synonymsexperiencedweather beatenAntonyms
Usage salty water
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.