salty
Salty (adj) means tasting of or containing salt. Example: “The crisps were so salty that she had to drink a whole glass of water.”
How to use salty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHaving a salt flavour, or, in slang, being irritated or bitter about something.
The "annoyed" sense is informal slang, common in gaming and online chat.
Word forms
saltier comparative, saltiest superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The crisps were so _____ that she had to drink a whole glass of water.
Etymology
PIE word *sḗh₂l 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.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for salty
See all rhymes for salty →Frequently asked questions
What does “salty” mean?
The word “salty” means tasting of or containing salt. In plain terms, having a salt flavour, or, in slang, being irritated or bitter about something.
How do you pronounce “salty”?
“Salty” is pronounced SOL-tee (/ˈsɔlti/ in IPA).
How do you use “salty” in a sentence?
Here is “salty” used in a sentence: “The crisps were so salty that she had to drink a whole glass of water.”
What is another word for “salty”?
Words with a similar meaning to “salty” include haline, saline and salt.
What is the opposite of “salty”?
The opposite of “salty” — its antonyms — are nonsaline, nonsalt, nonsalty and unsalty.
What part of speech is “salty”?
“Salty” is an adjective.
Is “salty” a common word?
“Salty” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “salty” have?
“Salty” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: tasting of or containing salt.
What is the difference between "salty" meaning literally salted and "salty" meaning irritated?
In its literal sense, "salty" describes food or water that tastes of or contains salt, such as a salty snack or salty ocean water. Informally, "salty" describes a person who is annoyed, bitter, or easily irritated, often about a minor slight or loss.
Is calling someone "salty" formal or informal?
Calling someone "salty" to mean bitter or irritated is informal slang, common in casual speech, gaming culture, and social media. It would not be appropriate in formal writing, where words like "resentful" or "annoyed" are better choices.
Can "salty" describe more than just food?
Yes, beyond describing taste, "salty" can describe bodies of water, such as a salty lake, or a person's mood or attitude in the informal sense of being irritable. The word's meaning shifts depending on whether the context is literal taste or figurative emotion.