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A1 adjective #1,800 le plus courant 10 min de lecture

salgado

Top 1,800

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces salgado en 30 secondes

Explication salgado in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'salgado' is one of the first adjectives you learn to describe food. It simply means 'salty'. You use it to talk about basic tastes and your preferences. At this stage, you should focus on the four forms: salgado, salgada, salgados, and salgadas. You will mostly use it with the verb 'estar' to describe a meal you are currently eating. For example, 'A sopa está salgada' (The soup is salty). You also learn it as the opposite of 'doce' (sweet). It is essential for basic survival in a restaurant or when cooking with friends. You don't need to worry about the metaphorical meanings yet; just focus on getting the gender agreement right and using it to describe things like popcorn, soup, or seawater.

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'salgado' in more complex sentences and start to see it in different contexts. You might use it to describe ingredients like 'manteiga salgada' (salted butter) versus 'manteiga sem sal' (unsalted butter). You also start to understand the difference between 'ser' and 'estar' with this adjective. 'O mar é salgado' (The sea is salty - a permanent fact) vs 'O peixe está salgado' (The fish is salty - a temporary state of this specific dish). You might also encounter 'salgado' as a noun referring to savory snacks in a bakery (padaria). Your vocabulary expands to include intensifiers like 'muito salgado' or 'um pouco salgado'.

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At the B1 level, you move beyond the literal meaning. This is where you learn the very common informal usage of 'salgado' to mean 'expensive'. You will hear this in daily conversations about the cost of living, travel, or shopping. For example, 'O preço das passagens está muito salgado' (The price of the tickets is very salty/expensive). You also start to use the superlative form 'salgadíssimo' to add emphasis. Your understanding of the word becomes more culturally nuanced, recognizing that in a Brazilian 'rodízio' or a Portuguese 'taberna', 'salgado' is a key descriptor for the heavy seasoning often found in traditional dishes.

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At the B2 level, you can use 'salgado' fluently in both literal and metaphorical senses. You understand the nuances of register—knowing when to use 'salgado' for high prices (informal) and when to use 'caro' or 'oneroso' (formal). you can also use it in more abstract descriptions, such as 'lágrimas salgadas' (salty tears) in a poetic context or 'brisa salgada' (salty breeze) in descriptive writing. You are comfortable with all grammatical variations and can use the word in complex structures, such as 'Apesar de estar um pouco salgado, o prato estava delicioso' (Despite being a bit salty, the dish was delicious).

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At the C1 level, you have a deep understanding of the word's etymology and its place in the broader Lusophone linguistic landscape. You might explore how 'salgado' appears in regional dialects or older literature. You can discuss the economic implications of 'preços salgados' in a sophisticated way, perhaps linking it to inflation or market trends in a conversation. You also recognize the word in technical contexts, such as 'solos salgados' in environmental discussions. Your use of the word is precise, and you can play with its double meanings for rhetorical effect or humor.

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At the C2 level, 'salgado' is a tool you use with native-like precision and creativity. You understand the subtle cultural connotations it carries in different Portuguese-speaking countries—for instance, how the concept of 'salgado' (the snack) differs between a 'lanchonete' in Rio and a 'pastelaria' in Lisbon. You can interpret and use the word in high-level literature, poetry, and academic discourse. You are aware of archaic uses and can identify the word's Latin roots in related terms. The word is no longer just a vocabulary item but a part of a complex web of cultural and linguistic associations.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

salgado en 30 secondes

Salgado means 'salty' and is used to describe food, seawater, or anything containing salt.
It must agree in gender and number with the noun: salgado, salgada, salgados, salgadas.
Informally, it is a very common way to say that a price or cost is 'expensive'.
It is the opposite of 'doce' (sweet) and is related to the noun 'salgado' (savory snack).

The word salgado is a fundamental adjective in the Portuguese language, primarily used to describe the presence of salt in food or substances. At its most basic level, it translates to 'salty' in English. However, its utility extends far beyond the kitchen. In a literal sense, it describes a flavor profile that is dominated by sodium chloride. When you taste seawater or a soup that has been over-seasoned, the immediate descriptor that comes to mind is salgado. This adjective must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies: salgado (masculine singular), salgada (feminine singular), salgados (masculine plural), and salgadas (feminine plural).

Literal Taste: Refers to food containing salt or having a sharp, savory flavor. For example, 'A batata frita está muito salgada' (The french fry is very salty).

Este bacalhau ainda está muito salgado, precisamos de o demolhar mais.

Beyond the palate, salgado carries a significant metaphorical weight in Lusophone cultures, particularly in Brazil and Portugal. It is the go-to word for describing something that is excessively expensive. If a car, a meal, or a rent price is higher than expected, a native speaker will likely remark that the price is 'salgado'. This transition from taste to cost implies a certain 'sharpness' or 'bitterness' associated with parting with a large sum of money. Understanding this duality is key for any learner moving from A1 to B1 levels.

Metaphorical Cost: Used informally to describe high prices. 'O preço do aluguel nesta cidade é bem salgado' (The rent price in this city is quite salty/expensive).

A conta do restaurante veio bem salgada hoje.

In the context of geography, salgado can also refer to salt marshes or areas where the sea meets the land, creating a saline environment. While less common in daily conversation than the culinary or financial meanings, it appears in literature and environmental studies. The word originates from the Latin 'salicatus', derived from 'sal' (salt), showing its deep Indo-European roots. In many Portuguese-speaking regions, 'salgado' as a noun also refers to a category of savory snacks (like coxinha or empada), but as an adjective, it remains strictly a descriptor of quality or state.

Environmental Context: Relating to salt-water bodies or terrains affected by salt. 'A brisa salgada do mar é revigorante' (The salty sea breeze is invigorating).

O solo desta região é muito salgado para a agricultura.

A água salgada pode danificar os motores dos barcos.

Gosto de pipoca bem salgada quando vou ao cinema.

Using salgado correctly requires attention to basic Portuguese grammar rules, specifically adjective-noun agreement. Since it is a four-form adjective, it changes based on what it describes. For a masculine singular noun like arroz (rice), you use salgado. For a feminine singular noun like carne (meat), you use salgada. In the plural, they become salgados and salgadas respectively. This is a foundational skill for A1 learners, but even advanced speakers must remain vigilant when using the word in complex sentence structures.

Agreement Rules: O peixe está salgado. (Masc. Sing.) / As batatas estão salgadas. (Fem. Plur.)

Não coma isso, está muito salgado!

The placement of salgado usually follows the noun, which is standard for most Portuguese adjectives. However, when used with the verb estar (to be - temporary state), it describes a specific instance of a food being salty. If you use ser (to be - permanent characteristic), you are describing an inherent quality. For example, 'A água do mar é salgada' (Sea water is salty - always) versus 'A sopa está salgada' (The soup is salty - right now, perhaps by mistake). This distinction is vital for conveying the correct meaning.

Ser vs Estar: Use 'ser' for natural saltiness (oceans, certain cheeses) and 'estar' for seasoning results in cooking.

O queijo gorgonzola é naturalmente salgado.

In informal Brazilian Portuguese, you might hear the augmentative form salgadinho. While this often refers to the snack (noun), it can also be used as a diminutive adjective to say something is 'a bit salty' or 'lightly salted'. Conversely, salgadíssimo is the superlative form, used to emphasize that something is extremely salty or incredibly expensive. Mastering these variations allows you to express intensity and nuance in your daily interactions.

Intensifiers: Salgadinho (slightly salty) vs. Salgadíssimo (extremely salty).

Este ingresso para o show está salgadíssimo!

Prefiro amendoim pouco salgado.

A carne de sol é uma iguaria salgada típica do Nordeste.

The word salgado is ubiquitous in Portuguese-speaking environments, appearing in a variety of settings from the mundane to the specialized. In a domestic setting, it is most frequently heard in the kitchen or around the dining table. Family members might complain about a dish being too salty, or a cook might ask if the seasoning is 'salgado o suficiente' (salty enough). It is a staple of culinary vocabulary, essential for anyone wanting to navigate a Portuguese or Brazilian menu.

In the Kitchen: Used by chefs and home cooks to discuss seasoning and flavor balance.

Cuidado para não deixar o feijão salgado.

In commercial environments, specifically restaurants and shops, salgado takes on its financial meaning. You will hear it in hushed tones between friends looking at a menu or loudly in a market when a customer thinks a price is unfair. It is a very common 'slang' that has been fully integrated into standard informal speech. If you are shopping for clothes in a high-end mall in Lisbon or São Paulo, you might hear someone whisper, 'Nossa, que preço salgado!'

In the Marketplace: Used to express sticker shock or dissatisfaction with high costs.

O quilo da carne está muito salgado esta semana.

Geographical and meteorological contexts also provide opportunities to hear the word. Coastal residents frequently use salgado to describe the air, the water, or the residue left on their skin after a day at the beach. In weather reports, you might hear about 'ar salgado' or 'névoa salgada' (salty mist) in regions near the ocean. Furthermore, in literature and music (like Fado or Bossa Nova), the 'salty' nature of the sea is often used as a metaphor for longing, tears, or the rugged life of sailors.

By the Sea: Descriptions of the ocean, coastal air, and maritime life.

Sinto o cheiro salgado do mar daqui.

As lágrimas têm um gosto salgado.

O vento salgado castigava o rosto dos pescadores.

One of the most frequent errors for English speakers learning Portuguese is the confusion between salgado (the adjective) and salgado (the noun). In Portuguese, 'um salgado' refers to a savory snack, such as a pastry or a fried appetizer. A student might say 'Eu gosto de salgado' meaning they like salty food, but a native will likely interpret this as 'I like savory snacks'. To describe the flavor profile generally, one should say 'Eu gosto de comida salgada'.

Noun vs Adjective: Don't confuse the snack (noun) with the taste (adjective). Use 'comida salgada' for the taste.

Erro: 'Esta sopa é um salgado'. Correto: 'Esta sopa está salgada'.

Another common pitfall involves gender agreement. Because many common food items are feminine (sopa, carne, batata, comida), learners often default to the masculine salgado out of habit. It is crucial to remember that the adjective must match the noun. Saying 'A batata está salgado' is a clear marker of a beginner level. Practicing with pairs like 'O pão salgado' and 'A bolacha salgada' can help internalize these patterns.

Gender Mismatch: Always match the ending (-o, -a, -os, -as) to the noun being described.

As azeitonas são muito salgadas.

Finally, learners sometimes over-apply the 'expensive' meaning of salgado. While it is very common, it is informal. Using it in a formal business report or a serious academic setting might be inappropriate. In those cases, words like 'caro', 'oneroso', or 'dispendioso' are preferred. Additionally, avoid using salgado to describe a person's personality unless you are using very specific regional slang; in most contexts, it won't make sense to call a person 'salty' like in English (meaning bitter or upset).

Register and Context: Use 'salgado' for prices in casual talk, but stick to 'caro' in formal writing.

O orçamento para o projeto está um pouco salgado (Informal).

A pipoca do cinema é sempre muito salgada.

Não ponha mais sal, já está salgado.

Understanding salgado is enhanced by comparing it to its synonyms and related terms. While salgado is the most common way to say 'salty', other words offer more specific shades of meaning. For instance, salino is a more technical or scientific term, often used in chemistry or biology to describe solutions or environments containing salt. You would hear about a 'solução salina' (saline solution) in a hospital, but never a 'solução salgada' in that context.

Salgado vs Salino: 'Salgado' is for taste and price; 'Salino' is for scientific and technical descriptions.

O médico recomendou uma lavagem salina.

When it comes to the metaphorical meaning of 'expensive', salgado shares space with caro. Caro is the standard, neutral term for high cost. Salgado adds a layer of informal emphasis, suggesting the price is a bit painful or surprisingly high. Another synonym is puxado, which literally means 'pulled' but is used colloquially to mean 'tough' or 'expensive'. If a price is puxado, it's stretching your budget to the limit.

Salgado vs Caro vs Puxado: 'Caro' is neutral. 'Salgado' is informal/expressive. 'Puxado' implies a struggle to pay.

A mensalidade da escola está bem puxada.

In terms of flavor, salgado is the opposite of doce (sweet). In Portuguese culture, the distinction between 'salgados' and 'doces' is the primary way of categorizing snacks and party foods. If you go to a birthday party, you will be offered a tray of 'salgadinhos' (savory snacks) and later a tray of 'docinhos' (sweet treats). Knowing these opposites helps you navigate social gatherings and food choices effectively.

Salgado vs Doce: The fundamental culinary binary in Portuguese: Savory/Salty vs. Sweet.

Você prefere comida salgada ou doce?

Este molho agridoce mistura o salgado com o doce.

O mar é salgado, mas os rios são de água doce.

How Formal Is It?

Niveau de difficulté

Grammaire à connaître

Adjective-Noun Agreement

Ser vs Estar

Augmentatives and Diminutives

Gender of Nouns

Pluralization of Adjectives

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Exemples par niveau

A sopa está muito salgada.

The soup is very salty.

Feminine singular agreement with 'sopa'.

Eu não gosto de comida salgada.

I don't like salty food.

Adjective following the noun 'comida'.

O arroz está salgado?

Is the rice salty?

Masculine singular agreement with 'arroz'.

A água do mar é salgada.

Sea water is salty.

Use of 'ser' for a permanent characteristic.

Estas batatas fritas são salgadas.

These french fries are salty.

Feminine plural agreement.

O pão é salgado ou doce?

Is the bread salty or sweet?

Contrast between 'salgado' and 'doce'.

Tem muito sal, está salgado.

There is too much salt, it is salty.

Simple cause and effect sentence.

O queijo é salgado.

The cheese is salty.

Masculine singular agreement.

Eu comprei manteiga salgada por engano.

I bought salted butter by mistake.

Compound noun 'manteiga salgada'.

O molho ficou um pouco salgado demais.

The sauce turned out a bit too salty.

Use of 'ficou' to describe a result.

Você prefere amendoim salgado?

Do you prefer salted peanuts?

Direct question with adjective.

As azeitonas pretas são bem salgadas.

The black olives are quite salty.

Feminine plural agreement.

Não coloque sal, a carne já está salgada.

Don't add salt, the meat is already salty.

Use of 'já' (already).

Gosto de pipoca bem salgada no cinema.

I like very salty popcorn at the cinema.

Adverb 'bem' as an intensifier.

O bacalhau é um peixe muito salgado.

Cod is a very salty fish.

Describing an inherent quality.

Este biscoito salgado é uma delícia.

This savory cracker is delicious.

Biscoito salgado = cracker.

O preço desse celular está muito salgado.

The price of this cell phone is very 'salty' (expensive).

Informal use for high prices.

A conta do jantar veio bem salgada.

The dinner bill came back quite 'salty' (expensive).

Metaphorical use with 'conta'.

Achei o aluguel do apartamento meio salgado.

I found the apartment rent a bit 'salty' (expensive).

Use of 'meio' as 'a bit'.

Os ingressos para o festival estão salgadíssimos.

The tickets for the festival are extremely expensive.

Superlative form 'salgadíssimo'.

Viajar para a Europa está ficando salgado.

Traveling to Europe is getting expensive.

Progressive state with 'ficando'.

O orçamento que ele me deu foi um pouco salgado.

The quote he gave me was a bit 'salty' (expensive).

Applying the metaphor to a business quote.

A manutenção do carro está cada vez mais salgada.

Car maintenance is getting more and more expensive.

Idiomatic expression 'cada vez mais'.

Não compre lá, os preços são muito salgados.

Don't buy there, the prices are very 'salty' (expensive).

Generalizing about a store's prices.

A brisa salgada do mar estragou a pintura do carro.

The salty sea breeze ruined the car's paint.

Environmental/descriptive usage.

O suor salgado escorria pelo seu rosto.

Salty sweat ran down his face.

Describing bodily fluids.

Ela sentiu o gosto salgado das lágrimas.

She felt the salty taste of tears.

Literary/emotive usage.

O solo salgado impede o crescimento de certas plantas.

The salty soil prevents the growth of certain plants.

Technical/agricultural context.

O ar salgado da costa é bom para a respiração.

The salty coastal air is good for breathing.

Health/nature context.

A névoa salgada cobria toda a vila de pescadores.

The salty mist covered the entire fishing village.

Atmospheric description.

Apesar do preço salgado, a qualidade é excelente.

Despite the 'salty' price, the quality is excellent.

Concessive clause with 'Apesar de'.

Eles vivem em um ambiente salgado e úmido.

They live in a salty and humid environment.

Describing a habitat.

A retórica dele era salgada, cheia de ironia.

His rhetoric was 'salty' (witty/sharp), full of irony.

Metaphorical use for wit/sharpness (rare/literary).

O mar salgado de Camões ainda ecoa na nossa alma.

Camões' salty sea still echoes in our soul.

Literary reference to Portuguese history.

A inflação deixou o custo de vida extremamente salgado.

Inflation has made the cost of living extremely 'salty' (expensive).

Economic context.

Há uma certa melancolia salgada no Fado.

There is a certain salty melancholy in Fado.

Abstract/artistic description.

O terreno salgado exige técnicas de irrigação específicas.

The salty terrain requires specific irrigation techniques.

Technical/scientific context.

Sua crítica foi salgada e difícil de digerir.

His criticism was 'salty' (harsh) and hard to digest.

Metaphorical use for harshness.

O deserto salgado refletia a luz do sol intensamente.

The salt desert reflected the sunlight intensely.

Geographical description.

A herança salgada da colonização ainda é visível.

The 'salty' (bitter/harsh) legacy of colonization is still visible.

Historical/sociological metaphor.

A porosidade do material foi afetada pelo ambiente salgado.

The material's porosity was affected by the salty environment.

Scientific/engineering context.

O autor utiliza o 'salgado' como metáfora para a labuta marítima.

The author uses 'salty' as a metaphor for maritime toil.

Literary analysis.

A lixiviação em solos salgados é um desafio constante.

Leaching in salty soils is a constant challenge.

Advanced environmental science.

O epíteto 'salgado' aqui refere-se à sagacidade do personagem.

The epithet 'salty' here refers to the character's sagacity.

Philological/literary note.

A maresia, esse hálito salgado do oceano, corrói o ferro.

The sea spray, that salty breath of the ocean, corrodes iron.

Poetic personification.

O custo marginal tornou-se salgado demais para a empresa.

The marginal cost became too 'salty' (high) for the company.

High-level business terminology.

A dialética entre o doce e o salgado na culinária contemporânea.

The dialectic between sweet and salty in contemporary cuisine.

Philosophical/culinary discourse.

O salgado das lágrimas confunde-se com o salgado do mar.

The saltiness of tears merges with the saltiness of the sea.

Complex metaphorical fusion.

Collocations courantes

Comida salgada

Preço salgado

Água salgada

Brisa salgada

Gosto salgado

Conta salgada

Pipoca salgada

Manteiga salgada

Lágrimas salgadas

Solo salgado

Phrases Courantes

Está salgado!

Um pouco salgado

Bem salgado

Salgado demais

Meio salgado

Preço bem salgado

Ficou salgado

Gosto de salgado

Nada salgado

Muito salgado

Souvent confondu avec

salgado vs Salgado (the snack)

salgado vs Salgar (the verb)

salgado vs Salino (technical term)

Expressions idiomatiques

"Preço salgado (High price)"

"Conta salgada (Expensive bill)"

"Estar salgado (To be expensive)"

"Ficar salgado (To become expensive)"

"Salgado como o mar (Very salty)"

"Salgado de doer (Painfully expensive)"

"Mais salgado que bacalhau (Extremely salty)"

"Salgado na medida (Perfectly salted)"

"Mão salgada (Someone who puts too much salt in food)"

"Salgado e apimentado (Witty and sharp)"

Facile à confondre

salgado vs

Structures de phrases

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Comment l'utiliser

expensive slang

Common in Brazil and Portugal, but strictly informal.

Erreurs courantes

Using 'salgado' for a person's mood.
Forgetting to change 'salgado' to 'salgada' for feminine nouns.
Using 'salgado' as a noun when you mean the taste.
Confusing 'salgado' with 'sujo' (dirty) because of similar sounds.
Using 'salgado' for 'expensive' in a formal report.

Astuces

Gender Agreement

Always match the adjective to the noun. 'A comida' is feminine, so 'A comida está salgada'.

The Snack Noun

Remember that 'um salgado' is a snack. If you want to say 'salty food', say 'comida salgada'.

Expensive

Use 'salgado' when you see a price that surprises you. It makes you sound very natural.

Too much salt

If you over-salted something, say 'Eu salguei demais' or 'Ficou salgado'.

The 'L' in Brazil

In Brazil, don't pronounce the 'L' with your tongue. Say it like a 'U' or 'W': saw-gah-du.

Party Food

At Brazilian parties, 'salgados' are served first, then 'doces'. This is a standard rule.

Sea Water

Always use 'água salgada' for the ocean and 'água doce' for rivers.

Salgadíssimo

Use the '-íssimo' ending to show that something is extremely salty or expensive.

Insosso

If food has no salt at all, use the word 'insosso'. It's the technical opposite of salgado.

Formal vs Informal

Avoid using 'salgado' for 'expensive' in professional emails; use 'caro' instead.

Mémorise-le

Origine du mot

Latin

Contexte culturel

Used similarly for taste and cost.

The word is heavily used for snacks (salgadinhos) and slang for high prices.

Strong connection to the sea and preserved foods like Bacalhau.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Amorces de conversation

"Você acha que a comida está salgada?"

"O preço deste restaurante é muito salgado?"

"Você prefere pipoca doce ou salgada?"

"O mar aqui é muito salgado?"

"Por que o aluguel nesta cidade é tão salgado?"

Sujets d'écriture

Descreva a última vez que você comeu algo muito salgado.

Você já comprou algo com um preço muito salgado? O que foi?

Quais são os seus 'salgados' (lanches) favoritos?

Como você tempera a sua comida? Gosta de muito sal?

Escreva sobre uma viagem à praia e a sensação da água salgada.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Generally, no. In English, 'salty' means upset, but in Portuguese, 'salgado' only refers to taste or price. Calling a person 'salgado' might be understood as 'witty' in some old dialects, but it's not common today.

It can be both! As an adjective, it means 'salty'. As a noun, 'um salgado' is a savory snack like a meat pastry.

You can say 'pouco salgado' or 'falta sal' (it lacks salt).

The meaning 'salty' is neutral. The meaning 'expensive' is informal/slang.

In terms of taste, 'doce' (sweet) or 'insosso' (bland). In terms of price, 'barato' (cheap).

No, 'salgado' is only for taste and price. For temperature, use 'quente'.

Yes, it becomes 'salgados' or 'salgadas'. For example: 'Os peixes estão salgados'.

It is a common idiom meaning that something is very expensive.

A 'salgadinho' is usually a small snack (like at a party). As an adjective, it means 'slightly salty'.

Use 'estar' when you are talking about how a specific food was prepared: 'A carne está salgada'.

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