adj B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

salty

SOL-tee

Quiz me More like this

Salty (adj) means tasting of or containing salt. Example: “The crisps were so salty that she had to drink a whole glass of water.”

adj

Tasting of or containing salt.

"The crisps were so salty that she had to drink a whole glass of water."

"The soup tasted too salty, so I added a little water."

"Sea air left a salty film on our skin after the swim."

"A few types of molecules get sensed by receptors on the tongue. Protons coming off of acids ping receptors for "sour." Sugars get received as "sweet." Bitter, salty, and the proteinaceous flavor umami all set off their own neural cascades." — Adam Rogers, The Fundamental Nihilism of Yanny vs. Laurel (2018)

(informal) Annoyed, bitter, or easily irritated.

"He got salty after losing the game and refused to talk to anyone."

"Misery can make you blame everybody else for your salty attitude. You think people just don't get where you're coming from. How can so many people be so stupid, you think. Well, your misery is very likely self-inflicted." — J. Ransom, Colla'd Greens Fuh-ya Soul (2004)

"Don't be so salty about it, it was only a friendly joke."

"She was still a bit salty that nobody had thanked her for helping."

How to use salty

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishHaving a salt flavour, or, in slang, being irritated or bitter about something.

When to use it

The "annoyed" sense is informal slang, common in gaming and online chat.

Common pairings

salty snacks get salty salty comment

Vocabulary Flow

Build your vocabulary from words like salty.

Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.

Start vocabulary practice

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Comparative: saltier
Superlative: saltiest

Test yourself on “salty” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

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.

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

View more →

brackish briny irritable testy touchy piqued piquant haline saline salt

Antonyms

fresh nonsaline nonsalt nonsalty unsalty

Related words

new old main cool recent river clean fresh

Rhymes for salty

fealty realty penalty loyalty royalty admiralty specialty disloyalty

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.

People also searched

new old main cool recent river clean fresh