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A2 adjective 11 Min. Lesezeit

salée

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Erklärung salée in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'salée' is introduced as a basic adjective to describe food. Students learn it alongside 'sucrée' (sweet) to distinguish between types of snacks or meals. The focus is on the literal meaning: tasting of salt. You will use it to describe a soup, a pizza, or water. At this stage, the most important thing is to remember that 'salée' ends with an 'e' because it is describing feminine things. If you are describing 'le café,' you would use 'salé,' but for 'la crêpe,' you must use 'salée.' It's a great word to practice your first gender agreements. You might use it in a simple sentence like 'La soupe est salée' or 'J'aime l'eau salée.' It helps you express basic preferences and describe the world around you in a simple way. You don't need to worry about the figurative meanings yet; just focus on the taste and the gender agreement. Practice saying it out loud: 'sah-lay'. The 'e' at the end is silent, but it changes how you write the word. This is a foundational word for any beginner traveler to France.

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At the A2 level, you begin to use 'salée' in more varied contexts. You are expected to handle common shopping and dining situations. You might use 'salée' to ask for a savory snack instead of a sweet one: 'Je voudrais une collation salée, s'il vous plaît.' You also start to encounter the word in descriptions of the environment, like 'la mer salée.' At this level, you should be comfortable with the plural form 'salées' as well. For example, 'Ces frites sont trop salées.' You are also introduced to the very common figurative use: 'une note salée' or 'une facture salée.' This is an essential idiom for daily life in France. If you go to a restaurant and the bill is much higher than you expected, you might say to your friend, 'La note est un peu salée!' This shows you are moving beyond literal translations and starting to understand how French people actually speak. You should also be careful not to confuse 'salée' with 'sale' (dirty), which is a common A2-level mistake. Remember: 'salée' has two syllables (sa-lée), while 'sale' has only one (sal).

At the B1 level, 'salée' becomes a tool for more nuanced description and expression. You can use it to talk about culinary preferences in detail, comparing 'la cuisine salée' with 'la pâtisserie sucrée.' You should be able to use adverbs to modify the intensity, such as 'légèrement salée' or 'excessivement salée.' The figurative meaning of 'expensive' is now a standard part of your vocabulary. You might use it in a discussion about the cost of living: 'Avec l'inflation, la facture d'électricité devient vraiment salée pour les familles.' You also begin to understand the social nuances of the word, such as 'une blague salée' (a risqué joke). You can identify this in literature or movies. At B1, you are expected to maintain perfect gender and number agreement in your writing. You also start to see the word in compound forms or specific regional contexts, like 'la fleur de sel' (though 'sel' is a noun, it's related). You understand that 'salée' is more than just a taste; it's a way to describe intensity and value. You can participate in a conversation about a meal, a bill, or a trip to the seaside using this word naturally.

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At the B2 level, you have a firm grasp of all the common and idiomatic uses of 'salée.' You can use it fluently in debates or detailed descriptions. For instance, you might describe the 'brise salée' of the coast in a creative writing piece, or discuss 'une amende salée' in a formal essay about law or society. You understand the subtle difference between 'salée' and synonyms like 'saumâtre' (brackish) or 'relevée' (spicy/seasoned). You can use 'salée' to describe a personality or a comment that is sharp or biting: 'Elle a fait une remarque assez salée sur son comportement.' This shows a high level of linguistic sophistication. You are also aware of the historical context of salt in France (like the 'gabelle' tax) and how that might influence the figurative meaning of 'expensive.' Your pronunciation is precise, and you never confuse it with 'sale.' You can handle complex sentences where 'salée' might be separated from its noun: 'Cette facture, bien que nécessaire, s'est avérée particulièrement salée.' You are comfortable using the word in both formal and informal registers, knowing when it's appropriate to call a joke 'salée' and when to use a more formal term like 'grivoise.'

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At the C1 level, you use 'salée' with the precision of a native speaker. You are sensitive to the stylistic effects of the word. In a literary analysis, you might discuss how a writer uses 'une atmosphère salée' to evoke a sense of nostalgia or harshness. You are familiar with more obscure or archaic uses, and you can use the word in sophisticated metaphors. For example, you might describe a 'critique salée' in a professional review, meaning a critique that is sharp, witty, and perhaps a bit harsh. You understand the etymological connection between 'sel' and 'salaire' and can use this knowledge to explain why 'salée' means expensive. Your use of the word is effortless, and you can play with its various meanings in a single conversation. You might joke about a 'note salée' for a meal that was 'trop salée,' using the double meaning for comedic effect. You are also capable of distinguishing 'salée' from technical terms like 'halin' (related to salt/sea) in scientific or poetic contexts. Your mastery of the word includes its placement, agreement, and all its figurative layers, allowing you to express complex ideas with simple, evocative language.

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At the C2 level, 'salée' is a versatile instrument in your linguistic repertoire. You possess a near-native intuition for its use in all contexts, from the most colloquial slang to the most refined literature. You can appreciate and use the word in puns, wordplay, and complex idiomatic expressions. You might explore the nuance of 'une addition salée' in a socio-economic treatise, or use 'salée' to describe the 'sting' of a lost love in a poem. You are aware of regional variations in how the word might be used or pronounced across the Francophone world. You can effortlessly switch between the literal 'eau salée' and the figurative 'propos salés' (coarse talk). Your understanding of the word is deep enough to recognize when its use is ironic or subverted. You could write a gourmet food review where 'salée' is used to describe the mineral qualities of a wine or the specific curing process of a ham. At this level, the word is no longer just a vocabulary item; it is a thread in the rich tapestry of your French language skills, used with absolute precision, cultural awareness, and stylistic flair. You understand the weight of the word in every possible sentence structure and social scenario.

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Salée is the feminine form of 'salty'. It describes taste, seawater, or savory food categories like galettes.
It is very commonly used figuratively to mean 'expensive' when talking about bills, fines, or prices.
It can also describe jokes or stories that are a bit crude, spicy, or socially risqué.
Always ensure it agrees with feminine nouns like 'la soupe', 'la note', or 'l'eau'.

The French word salée is the feminine singular form of the adjective meaning 'salty' or 'salted.' In its most literal sense, it describes food or substances that contain salt or have a taste dominated by salt. Because French adjectives must agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify, you will use salée whenever you are describing a feminine noun, such as une soupe (a soup), une crêpe (a crepe), or une eau (water).

Culinary Context: In French gastronomy, the distinction between 'sucré' (sweet) and 'salé' (savory/salty) is fundamental. You will often hear this word at a crêperie where you must choose between a 'galette salée' (a savory buckwheat crepe) and a 'crêpe sucrée' (a sweet wheat crepe). It is not just about the presence of sodium, but about the entire category of savory dishes.

Cette sauce est beaucoup trop salée pour mon goût.

Beyond the kitchen, salée carries significant figurative weights. One of the most common idiomatic uses relates to cost. When a bill, a price, or a fine is described as salée, it means it is exceptionally high or 'steep.' This likely stems from the historical value of salt as a precious and expensive commodity (the word 'salary' shares this root). If you receive 'une note salée' at a restaurant, prepare your wallet for a shock.

Social Context: In informal or slightly dated contexts, 'une histoire salée' refers to a joke or a story that is a bit 'spicy,' risqué, or contains crude humor. It suggests something that has a 'bite' to it, much like salt on a wound or a sharp seasoning.

L'addition était particulièrement salée après ce repas gastronomique.

Finally, the word is essential when discussing geography and nature. 'L'eau salée' (salt water) is the standard term for seawater, as opposed to 'l'eau douce' (fresh water). Whether you are at the beach in Marseille or cooking pasta in Paris, this adjective is a staple of the French language that bridges the gap between the physical sensation of taste and the abstract concepts of value and humor.

La brise salée de l'Atlantique nous piquait le visage.

Agreement Rules: Remember that 'salée' is specifically the feminine singular form. If you are describing multiple feminine items, like 'des tartes,' you must add an 's' to make it 'salées.' The pronunciation remains the same, but the spelling is crucial for written French.

Elle a raconté une blague un peu salée pendant le dîner.

Using salée correctly requires attention to noun gender and the specific context of the sentence. Since it is an adjective, it usually follows the noun it modifies in French. For example, 'salty water' becomes 'eau salée.' This placement is standard for adjectives describing taste, color, or physical properties.

Describing Food: When you find a dish too salty, you use 'trop' before the adjective. 'La soupe est trop salée' is a common complaint. Conversely, if you are categorizing a type of food, you might say 'une collation salée' (a savory snack) to distinguish it from a sweet one.

Je préfère une tarte salée aux poireaux plutôt qu'une tarte sucrée.

In the realm of finance and commerce, the word describes costs. It is frequently used with nouns like 'facture' (invoice), 'note' (bill), or 'amende' (fine). 'Une amende salée' implies a penalty that is painful to pay. It suggests that the amount is much higher than expected or fair. This figurative use is very common in news headlines and daily conversation.

Environmental Descriptions: When describing the sea or maritime environments, 'salée' is the go-to adjective. 'Une brume salée' (a salty mist) or 'une atmosphère salée' (a salty atmosphere) evokes the sensory experience of being near the ocean.

Après la tempête, une buée salée recouvrait les vitres de la maison.

You can also use 'salée' to describe experiences or words. 'Une réplique salée' is a witty, sharp, or slightly biting comeback. It implies that the response had some 'flavor' or 'sting.' Similarly, 'une plaisanterie salée' is a joke that might be considered borderline inappropriate or crude.

La facture d'électricité de cet hiver est vraiment salée.

Degrees of Saltiness: To modify the intensity, use adverbs: 'légèrement salée' (lightly salted), 'très salée' (very salty), or 'excessivement salée' (excessively salty). For feminine plural nouns, remember to add the 's': 'des cacahuètes salées'.

Elle préfère la nourriture salée aux sucreries habituelles.

In everyday French life, salée is ubiquitous, particularly in environments related to eating and commerce. If you visit a French market (le marché), you will see signs for 'olives salées' or 'morue salée' (salted cod). The word is part of the essential vocabulary for navigating food labels and menus.

At the Restaurant: Waiters often ask if you want a 'crêpe salée' or a 'galette' for your main course. If a customer finds their meal unpalatable due to too much salt, they might whisper to their companion, 'La soupe est immangeable, elle est beaucoup trop salée.' It is a standard term for culinary feedback.

Garçon, cette eau minérale a un goût de terre, et la soupe est trop salée.

In the workplace or around the dinner table, the figurative meaning often surfaces when discussing bills. You might hear a colleague grumble, 'J'ai reçu ma taxe d'habitation, la note est salée cette année !' This usage is very common in informal conversation and helps speakers express their frustration with high costs without using overly technical financial terms.

In the News: Journalists love using 'salée' to describe economic penalties. Headlines like 'Une amende salée pour l'entreprise' (A steep fine for the company) are standard. It adds a descriptive, almost physical quality to the news report, making the financial penalty seem more 'painful' or 'stinging.'

Le journal titre ce matin sur une facture d'énergie très salée pour les ménages.

In a more relaxed social setting, such as a bar or a party, 'salée' might describe a joke. If someone tells a story that is a bit too 'blue' or crude, another might say, 'C'est une blague un peu salée, non ?' It is a way of acknowledging the risqué nature of the humor without being overly judgmental.

L'eau salée de la piscine me pique les yeux.

Geography and Travel: Travel guides will use 'salée' to describe lakes or marshes. 'Une lagune salée' is a common geographical feature. Hikers and nature lovers will use this term to describe the environment they are exploring.

The most frequent mistake English speakers make with salée involves gender agreement. In English, 'salty' never changes. In French, you must consciously decide between salé (masculine) and salée (feminine). Using the masculine form for a feminine noun, like 'une soupe salé,' is a tell-tale sign of a learner. Even though they sound identical, the written 'e' is mandatory.

Confusing with 'Sale': A very common and sometimes embarrassing mistake is confusing 'salé/salée' with 'sale.' 'Sale' (pronounced like 'sal' in 'salad') means 'dirty.' If you tell a chef 'La soupe est sale,' you are telling him the soup is dirty, not salty. To say it is salty, you must pronounce the 'é' at the end: 'sa-lay'.

Attention : ne dites pas 'une nappe sale' quand vous voulez dire 'une nappe salée'.

Another error involves the figurative meaning. English speakers might try to use 'salty' to describe someone who is annoyed or 'salty' in the modern slang sense. In French, salée does not mean 'cranky' or 'bitter' about a loss. If you say 'Elle est salée,' a Frenchman will likely think you are saying she is 'spicy' (risqué) or perhaps that she has been swimming in the ocean. Use 'aigri' or 'de mauvaise humeur' for the English slang 'salty.'

Plural Agreement: Learners often forget the 's' in the feminine plural. 'Des amandes salées' requires both the 'e' for feminine and the 's' for plural. While you won't hear the 's' in speech, leaving it out in writing is a grammatical error.

Faites attention à l'accord : 'une eau salée', mais 'des eaux salées'.

Finally, avoid using salée to mean 'savory' in every context. While it works for 'une crêpe salée,' if you want to say a meal is 'savory' meaning 'full of flavor' or 'deliciously seasoned,' words like 'savoureux' or 'goûteux' are often better choices. Salée specifically highlights the salt content or the category of non-sweet food.

La viande est savoureuse, pas seulement salée.

To enrich your French, it is helpful to know words that are similar to salée or that can replace it depending on the nuance you want to convey. While salée is the basic term, other adjectives offer more precision regarding taste and intensity.

Saumâtre vs. Salée: 'Saumâtre' (brackish) is used for water that is a mix of fresh and salt water, like in an estuary. It often has a negative connotation, suggesting water that is unpleasant to drink. 'Salée' is neutral; 'saumâtre' is specific and often derogatory.

L'eau de cette lagune est saumâtre, elle n'est pas potable.

If you want to describe food that is well-seasoned but not necessarily 'salty,' use 'assaisonnée.' If it has a kick or is strongly flavored, 'relevée' is the perfect word. For example, 'une sauce relevée' might contain salt, but it also implies spices and depth. 'Salée' can sometimes sound like a criticism (too much salt), whereas 'relevée' is usually a compliment.

Figurative Alternatives: When talking about a 'salée' (steep) price, you can use 'exorbitante' (exorbitant), 'coûteuse' (costly), or 'excessive' (excessive). These are more formal. In slang, you might hear 'corsée' (strong/tough), though 'salée' remains the most common idiomatic choice for a high bill.

La facture était exorbitante, bien plus que prévu.

For the 'risqué' meaning of salée, alternatives include 'osée' (daring), 'grivoise' (bawdy), or 'licencieuse' (licentious). 'Osée' is very common in modern French to describe a joke or an outfit that pushes boundaries. 'Salée' in this context is slightly old-fashioned but still widely understood.

Il a raconté une anecdote assez osée lors de la réunion.

Antonyms: The most obvious antonym is 'sucrée' (sweet). Another important one is 'douce' (sweet/fresh), specifically used in 'eau douce' (fresh water). If food lacks salt, you say it is 'fade' (bland) or 'insipide' (tasteless).

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The figurative meaning of 'salée' for a high price is linked to the historical value of salt. In ancient times, salt was so valuable it was used as currency, leading to the word 'salary'. Therefore, a 'salty' bill is one that costs a lot of 'salt'.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /sa.le/

US /sɑ.leɪ/

Final syllable (lé).

Reimt sich auf

allée parlée vallée gelée volée appelée mêlée voilée

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing the final 'e' (it should be silent).
Confusing it with 'sale' (dirty), which has no 'é' sound.
Making the 'é' sound like a diphthong (ay-ee) instead of a pure 'é'.
Over-emphasizing the first syllable.
Pronouncing the 's' as a 'z' (it should be a sharp 's').

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 2/5

Easy to recognize, but must distinguish between literal and figurative meanings.

Schreiben 3/5

Requires careful attention to gender (e) and number (s) agreement.

Sprechen 2/5

Pronunciation is simple, but must avoid the 'sale' (dirty) pitfall.

Hören 2/5

Sounds the same as the masculine 'salé', context is needed for spelling.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

sel goût eau note trop

Als Nächstes lernen

sucrée fade amère acide épicée

Fortgeschritten

saumâtre grivois onéreux exorbitant gabelle

Wichtige Grammatik

Adjective Agreement (Gender)

La soupe (f) est salée. Le bouillon (m) est salé.

Adjective Agreement (Number)

Les soupes (f.pl) sont salées.

Adjective Placement

Une eau salée (usually follows the noun).

Adverbial Modification

Une note un peu salée. (Adverbs like 'un peu' or 'très' come before the adjective).

Comparison of Adjectives

Cette eau est plus salée que celle-là.

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Beispiele nach Niveau

La soupe est salée.

The soup is salty.

Feminine singular agreement with 'la soupe'.

J'aime l'eau salée.

I like salt water.

Feminine singular agreement with 'l'eau'.

C'est une galette salée.

It is a savory crepe.

Feminine singular agreement with 'une galette'.

La pizza est très salée.

The pizza is very salty.

Using 'très' to modify the adjective.

Est-ce que la sauce est salée ?

Is the sauce salty?

Question form with feminine agreement.

Une collation salée, s'il vous plaît.

A savory snack, please.

Feminine singular agreement with 'une collation'.

La mer est salée.

The sea is salty.

Basic descriptive sentence.

Cette tarte n'est pas salée.

This tart is not salty.

Negative form 'ne...pas'.

La note du restaurant est un peu salée.

The restaurant bill is a bit steep.

Figurative use meaning expensive.

J'ai acheté des olives salées au marché.

I bought salty olives at the market.

Feminine plural agreement with 'olives'.

Attention, cette eau n'est pas douce, elle est salée.

Careful, this water isn't fresh, it's salty.

Contrast between 'douce' and 'salée'.

Ma mère fait une quiche très salée.

My mother makes a very salty quiche.

Feminine singular agreement with 'quiche'.

La facture d'électricité est salée ce mois-ci.

The electricity bill is steep this month.

Common figurative use for bills.

Elle préfère les crêpes salées aux crêpes sucrées.

She prefers savory crepes over sweet crepes.

Feminine plural agreement.

La peau est salée après une baignade en mer.

The skin is salty after a swim in the sea.

Feminine singular agreement with 'la peau'.

C'est une amende salée pour un simple excès de vitesse.

It's a steep fine for a simple speeding offense.

Figurative use with 'amende'.

La réforme a laissé une addition salée pour les contribuables.

The reform left a steep bill for the taxpayers.

Metaphorical use in a political context.

Il a raconté une histoire un peu salée pendant le mariage.

He told a slightly risqué story during the wedding.

Figurative use meaning 'spicy' or 'crude'.

La brume salée de l'océan abîme la peinture des maisons.

The ocean's salty mist damages the paint on the houses.

Descriptive use in a physical context.

Cette sauce soja est extrêmement salée, utilisez-la avec modération.

This soy sauce is extremely salty; use it sparingly.

Using the adverb 'extrêmement'.

La note de l'hôtel était plus salée que prévu.

The hotel bill was steeper than expected.

Comparative structure 'plus... que'.

Ils ont servi des amandes salées avec l'apéritif.

They served salty almonds with the aperitif.

Feminine plural agreement.

L'eau de la Mer Morte est incroyablement salée.

The water of the Dead Sea is incredibly salty.

Geographical description.

Elle a reçu une contravention salée pour stationnement gênant.

She received a steep fine for obstructive parking.

Synonym for 'amende'.

La plaisanterie était un peu trop salée pour l'assemblée.

The joke was a bit too crude for the audience.

Figurative use regarding social appropriateness.

La facture des travaux de rénovation s'annonce salée.

The bill for the renovation work looks like it will be steep.

Future-oriented figurative use.

L'air marin apporte cette odeur salée si caractéristique.

The sea air brings that very characteristic salty smell.

Describing a sensory experience.

Certaines variétés de beurre sont plus salées que d'autres.

Some varieties of butter are saltier than others.

Plural agreement with 'variétés'.

Une critique salée a été publiée dans le journal ce matin.

A biting review was published in the newspaper this morning.

Figurative use meaning sharp or harsh.

La note finale de la transaction risque d'être salée.

The final bill of the transaction risks being steep.

Business context.

La terre est devenue salée à cause de l'irrigation excessive.

The soil has become salty because of excessive irrigation.

Environmental/Scientific context.

Ses paroles étaient salées, pleines de reproches cachés.

Her words were sharp, full of hidden reproaches.

Figurative use for speech.

L'auteur manie une prose salée qui ne ménage personne.

The author wields a sharp prose that spares no one.

Literary figurative use.

La sentence fut salée, reflétant la gravité du crime.

The sentence was harsh, reflecting the gravity of the crime.

Legal figurative use (sentence/punishment).

Une brise salée venait fouetter les visages des marins.

A salty breeze came whipping the sailors' faces.

Evocative literary description.

Le coût environnemental de ce projet laissera une facture salée aux générations futures.

The environmental cost of this project will leave a steep bill for future generations.

Abstract metaphorical use.

Elle a une répartie salée qui désarçonne ses adversaires.

She has a witty, sharp comeback that disarms her opponents.

Describing a character trait.

La lagune, devenue trop salée, a vu sa biodiversité chuter.

The lagoon, having become too salty, saw its biodiversity drop.

Ecological context.

Leurs anecdotes salées ont pimenté la fin de la soirée.

Their risqué anecdotes spiced up the end of the evening.

Social/Informal figurative use.

L'addition fut d'autant plus salée qu'ils avaient commandé du champagne.

The bill was all the more steep because they had ordered champagne.

Complex sentence structure 'd'autant plus... que'.

L'âcreté de cette eau salée rappelait les naufrages d'antan.

The bitterness of that salt water recalled the shipwrecks of yore.

Highly literary and evocative.

Une ironie salée parcourait tout son discours inaugural.

A sharp irony ran through his entire inaugural speech.

Sophisticated metaphorical use.

La gabelle, taxe sur le sel, rendait la vie des paysans bien salée.

The gabelle, a salt tax, made the lives of peasants quite difficult/expensive.

Historical pun/wordplay.

L'écume salée déposait un voile blanc sur les rochers noirs.

The salty foam deposited a white veil on the black rocks.

Precise poetic description.

Sa verve salée est le reflet d'une éducation populaire et rebelle.

His sharp eloquence is the reflection of a popular and rebellious upbringing.

Describing a rhetorical style.

La facture sociale de la désindustrialisation sera particulièrement salée.

The social cost of deindustrialization will be particularly steep.

Sociopolitical metaphor.

Il se délectait de ces plaisanteries salées qui choquaient la bourgeoisie.

He delighted in those crude jokes that shocked the bourgeoisie.

Contextualizing social registers.

La mer, dans sa fureur salée, semblait vouloir engloutir la jetée.

The sea, in its salty fury, seemed to want to swallow the pier.

Personification and descriptive adjective.

Häufige Kollokationen

eau salée

note salée

facture salée

blague salée

amende salée

addition salée

brise salée

collation salée

histoire salée

crêpe salée

Häufige Phrasen

La note est salée

— The bill is expensive. Used when expressing surprise or frustration at a high cost.

Pour un simple café, la note est salée !

L'addition est salée

— The bill is steep. Similar to 'la note est salée', often used in restaurants or for services.

L'addition est salée pour ce petit garage.

Une plaisanterie salée

— A crude or dirty joke. Refers to humor that is not suitable for all audiences.

Évite les plaisanteries salées devant ma grand-mère.

Eau de mer salée

— Salty seawater. A redundant but common way to specify ocean water.

L'eau de mer salée aide à flotter.

Trop salée

— Too salty. A very common complaint about food.

Ma soupe est beaucoup trop salée.

Version salée

— Savory version. Used when a food item exists in both sweet and savory forms.

Il existe une version salée de ce gâteau.

Amende bien salée

— A very heavy fine. Emphasizes the severity of the financial penalty.

Il a eu une amende bien salée pour son excès de vitesse.

Une sauce salée

— A salty sauce. Can refer to soy sauce or any highly salted condiment.

Trempez les sushis dans la sauce salée.

Atmosphère salée

— Salty atmosphere. Often used to describe the air near the ocean.

On sent l'atmosphère salée dès qu'on arrive sur la côte.

Une facture un peu salée

— A somewhat steep bill. A slightly softened way to complain about a high price.

C'est une facture un peu salée, vous ne trouvez pas ?

Wird oft verwechselt mit

salée vs sale

Means 'dirty'. Pronounced differently (one syllable vs two).

salée vs sucrée

Means 'sweet'. The direct opposite in food categories.

salée vs douce

Means 'fresh' when describing water, but 'sweet' in other contexts.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Avoir la main salée"

— To be heavy-handed with salt. Used when someone adds too much salt while cooking.

Le cuisinier a dû avoir la main salée aujourd'hui.

informal

"Une addition salée"

— A high price to pay, often metaphorically for a mistake.

L'addition sera salée pour l'environnement.

neutral

"Raconter des histoires salées"

— To tell dirty or off-color stories.

Il adore raconter des histoires salées après quelques verres.

informal

"La facture est salée"

— The cost is very high.

La facture est salée pour les contribuables.

neutral

"Une amende salée"

— A heavy fine.

S'il se fait attraper, il aura une amende salée.

neutral

"Pain de mer salée"

— Literally 'saltwater bread', an old term for hard tack or sea biscuit.

Les marins mangeaient du pain de mer salée.

archaic

"Une note un peu salée"

— A bill that is higher than expected.

La note est un peu salée pour une simple révision.

neutral

"Sueur salée"

— Salty sweat. Often used in literary descriptions of hard work.

Sa sueur salée lui coulait dans les yeux.

literary

"Larme salée"

— Salty tear. A poetic emphasis on the physical nature of crying.

Une unique larme salée roula sur sa joue.

literary

"Réplique salée"

— A sharp, witty, or biting response.

Elle lui a envoyé une réplique salée.

neutral

Leicht verwechselbar

salée vs sale

Similar spelling for English speakers.

'Sale' means dirty and is pronounced with one syllable. 'Salée' means salty and has two syllables with an 'ay' sound at the end.

La nappe est sale (dirty) vs La soupe est salée (salty).

salée vs saumâtre

Both refer to salt in water.

'Salée' is the general term for salt water. 'Saumâtre' is specific for brackish water (mix of salt and fresh) and often implies it is undrinkable.

L'eau de mer est salée. L'eau de l'estuaire est saumâtre.

salée vs relevée

Both describe strong flavors.

'Salée' specifically means salt. 'Relevée' means spicy or strongly seasoned with various spices.

Cette sauce est très relevée (spicy), mais pas trop salée.

salée vs osée

Both can describe jokes.

'Osée' means daring or bold. 'Salée' specifically implies a bit of 'dirtiness' or coarseness in the humor.

C'est une blague osée. C'est une histoire salée.

salée vs onéreuse

Both mean expensive.

'Onéreuse' is formal and literal. 'Salée' is idiomatic and implies a 'sting' to the price.

Une voiture onéreuse. Une facture salée.

Satzmuster

La [noun] est salée.

La soupe est salée.

Une [noun] salée.

Une crêpe salée.

La note est salée.

La note du bar est salée.

Une [noun] un peu salée.

Une facture un peu salée.

Raconter une [noun] salée.

Il raconte une histoire salée.

L'eau [adjective] et salée.

L'eau froide et salée.

[Noun] particulièrement salée.

Une critique particulièrement salée.

[Noun] à la verve salée.

Un auteur à la verve salée.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

le sel (salt)

la salière (salt shaker)

la salaison (salting/curing)

la salinité (salinity)

Verben

saler (to salt/to add salt)

dessaler (to remove salt)

Adjektive

salé (masculine form)

salée (feminine form)

saumâtre (brackish)

salin (saline)

Verwandt

le salaire (salary - historically paid in salt)

la saumure (brine)

le salpêtre (saltpeter)

saler la note (to overcharge)

sel de mer (sea salt)

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So verwendest du es

frequency

Very common in daily life, especially regarding food and money.

Häufige Fehler

La soupe est salé. → La soupe est salée.
The noun 'soupe' is feminine, so the adjective must take an 'e'.
Je n'aime pas cette eau sale. → Je n'aime pas cette eau salée.
Confusing 'sale' (dirty) with 'salée' (salty). In a restaurant, this could be an insult to the hygiene of the place!
Elle est très salée aujourd'hui. → Elle est de mauvaise humeur aujourd'hui.
Trying to use the English slang 'salty' to mean 'annoyed'. In French, this doesn't work.
Des frites salée. → Des frites salées.
Missing the plural 's' for the feminine plural noun 'frites'.
L'eau fraiche de la mer. → L'eau salée de la mer.
Using 'fraîche' to mean the opposite of salty. While seawater can be cold (fraîche), the correct term for its salt content is 'salée'.

Tipps

Gender Agreement

Always look at the noun. 'Eau' is feminine, so it's 'eau salée'. 'Beurre' is masculine, so it's 'beurre salé'. This is the most common mistake for learners.

The 'é' Sound

Ensure the 'é' is a sharp, short sound. If you don't pronounce it, you're saying 'sale' (dirty), which can be very confusing in a restaurant!

Figurative Meaning

Remember that 'salée' often refers to money. If someone says a price is 'salée', they aren't talking about the taste of the coins; they mean it's expensive.

Savory vs. Salty

In a culinary context, 'salée' often just means 'savory' (not sweet). Don't assume the food will be unhealthy or over-salted just because it's in the 'salée' category.

Risqué Jokes

If you hear 'une blague salée', expect some adult humor. It's a useful term to know so you aren't surprised by the content of a story.

Seaside Vocabulary

Use 'salée' to describe the air, the mist, and the water when you're at the beach. It adds a nice descriptive touch to your French.

Plural Form

Don't forget the 's' in 'salées' when describing multiple feminine things like 'des amandes' or 'des factures'.

The 'Note Salée'

This is one of the most useful idioms. Use it when you think a price is unfair or surprisingly high.

Fresh Water

Always remember that the opposite of 'eau salée' (salt water) is 'eau douce' (fresh water), not 'eau fraîche' (which just means cold water).

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'Salée' as 'Salt-eh'. The 'eh' at the end reminds you of the 'é' accent. If a bill is 'salée', you say 'Eh? That's too much salt (money)!'

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a giant salt shaker pouring salt over a huge restaurant bill. The bill is now 'salée' (salty and expensive).

Word Web

Sel (Salt) Mer (Sea) Soupe (Soup) Note (Bill) Facture (Invoice) Blague (Joke) Sucrée (Opposite) Cuisine (Cooking)

Herausforderung

Try to use 'salée' in three different ways today: once for food, once for the sea, and once to complain about a price.

Wortherkunft

Derived from the Old French word 'salé', which comes from the Latin 'salatus', the past participle of 'salare' (to salt).

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: The original meaning was simply 'seasoned with salt' or 'preserved in salt'.

Indo-European > Italic > Romance > French.

Kultureller Kontext

Calling a joke 'salée' implies it is a bit dirty. Be careful using this in professional settings as it might suggest you are being inappropriate.

English speakers use 'salty' to mean upset or annoyed. French speakers do NOT use 'salée' this way. They use it for 'expensive' or 'risqué'.

The 'Gabelle' - the historic French salt tax. Fleur de Sel de Guérande - a famous high-quality French salt. The 'Addition Salée' trope in French comedy films.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

At a restaurant

La soupe est trop salée.
Je voudrais une crêpe salée.
L'addition est un peu salée.
C'est une version salée ?

At the beach

L'eau est très salée ici.
L'air a une odeur salée.
Mes cheveux sont pleins d'eau salée.
La brise est salée.

Talking about money

La facture est vraiment salée.
C'est une amende salée !
La note va être salée.
Le prix est un peu salé (masc) / La facture est salée (fem).

Socializing

Il raconte des blagues salées.
C'est une histoire un peu salée.
Sa remarque était salée.
Évite les propos salés.

Cooking

La pâte est trop salée.
Une garniture salée.
Une préparation salée.
Une touche salée.

Gesprächseinstiege

"Trouves-tu que la nourriture dans ce restaurant est trop salée ?"

"As-tu déjà reçu une facture d'électricité vraiment salée ?"

"Préfères-tu les collations sucrées ou les collations salées ?"

"Est-ce que tu aimes l'odeur salée de l'océan quand tu es en vacances ?"

"Connais-tu une blague un peu salée que tu peux raconter ?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Décris un repas que tu as mangé et qui était beaucoup trop salé. Quelle a été ta réaction ?

Raconte une fois où tu as reçu une 'note salée' inattendue. Comment as-tu géré la situation ?

Est-ce que tu préfères nager dans l'eau salée de la mer ou dans l'eau douce d'un lac ? Pourquoi ?

Écris sur la différence entre les aliments sucrés et les aliments salés dans ta culture.

Imagine que tu es au bord de la mer. Décris ce que tu ressens, en utilisant le mot 'salée'.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

No, it can just describe the category of food. For example, 'une crêpe salée' is just a savory crepe, not necessarily an over-salted one. However, if you say 'La soupe est salée,' it often implies it has too much salt.

No, you would use 'salé' for a man or a masculine noun. But even then, describing a person as 'salé' is rare in French. It doesn't mean 'annoyed' like in English slang. It might mean they are 'risqué' or 'coarse' in their speech.

'Eau de mer' specifically means seawater. 'Eau salée' is the general term for any water containing salt. Most people use them interchangeably when at the beach.

It is neutral to informal. You can use it with friends or family. In a very formal business meeting, you might prefer 'un coût élevé' or 'une facture importante,' but 'salée' is not offensive.

They are pronounced exactly the same: /sa.le/. The difference is only in the spelling and the gender of the noun they modify.

Not really. 'Salée' only means salty. If a dish is spicy (hot), use 'épicée' or 'piquante'. If it is strongly seasoned, use 'relevée'.

This comes from the historical high price of salt and the 'gabelle' tax. Salt was expensive, so a 'salty' bill is one that costs a lot of valuable salt.

No. To describe someone who is bitter or annoyed, use 'amer' (bitter) or 'de mauvaise humeur' (in a bad mood). French doesn't use the 'salty' slang common in English.

No, 'salée' is not used for colors. However, 'gris sel et poivre' (salt and pepper gray) is used for hair.

In Brittany, a 'galette' is specifically a savory crepe made with buckwheat. In other parts of France, people might just say 'une crêpe salée' to mean any non-sweet crepe.

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