salty
gb/sˈɔlti/ us/sˈɔlti/
A2
English
sós, sértődött, pipa, borsos, húzós, szabadszájú, pikáns, trágár, sokat látott, edzett
A2
1
sós
A1
Usage pattern:
[food/drink] is salty; salty [food]
This soup is too salty, so I’m adding more water.
Ez a leves túl sós, ezért még vizet adok hozzá.
The pretzels were salty and crunchy.
A perecek sósak és ropogósak voltak.
I accidentally swallowed some salty water while swimming.
Learner examples
The fries are salty.
A sült krumpli sós.
This cheese is very salty.
Ez a sajt nagyon sós.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse salty (taste of salt) with spicy (hot taste from chili).
Meaning
tasting strongly of salt
Collocations
too salty
|salty snack
|salty chips
|salty popcorn
|salty soup
|salty cheese
|salty broth
|salty sauce
|salty water
|salty taste
Synonyms
salted (Often describes food that has had salt added.)
|
saline (More technical; often used for water or solutions.)
|
briny (Suggests seawater-like saltiness.)
Antonyms
unsalted (No salt has been added.)
|
bland (Lacking strong flavor, often including lack of salt.)
Themes
food
|daily_life
|health
Definition
It tastes like salt or has a lot of salt in it.
Having a strong taste of salt or containing a noticeable amount of salt.
C1
SLANG
2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is salty (about [something]); salty about [something]
He was salty about not being invited to the meeting.
Meg volt sértődve, amiért nem hívták meg a megbeszélésre.
Don’t get salty just because you lost.
Ne sértődj be csak azért, mert vesztettél.
Her salty comments made the conversation uncomfortable.
Learner examples
I’m salty about the result.
Pipa vagyok az eredmény miatt.
Common mistake:
This meaning is informal; in formal writing, use upset, annoyed, or resentful instead.
Meaning
annoyed and resentful
Collocations
salty about losing
|salty about it
|salty comment
|salty reply
|salty response
|salty attitude
|salty online
|salty after the game
|salty fan
|salty mood
Synonyms
bitter (Stronger and longer-lasting resentment.)
|
resentful (More formal; focused on feeling treated unfairly.)
|
sore (Informal; often used after losing (as in 'a sore loser').)
|
annoyed (More general and usually milder.)
Antonyms
gracious (Polite and calm, especially in defeat.)
|
good-natured (Friendly and not easily offended.)
|
unbothered (Not upset or affected by it (informal).)
Themes
emotions
|internet
|sports
|social_life
Definition
Angry or upset about something (informal).
Upset, irritated, or resentful, especially after being criticized, disappointed, or defeated.
B2
3
sós
A1
Usage pattern:
salty [air/breeze/wind/spray]
We stepped outside and breathed in the salty air.
Kiléptünk, és mélyet lélegeztünk a sós levegőből.
A salty breeze came off the water as the sun set.
Ahogy lement a nap, sós szellő fújt a víz felől.
The towels smelled salty after a day at the beach.
Learner examples
I like the salty sea air.
Szeretem a sós tengeri levegőt.
Common mistake:
In this sense, salty often describes air or wind, not food.
Meaning
smelling like the sea
Collocations
salty air
|salty breeze
|salty wind
|salty spray
|salty smell
|salty mist
|salty ocean air
Synonyms
briny (More literary; strongly suggests seawater.)
|
sea-scented (Explicitly refers to the smell of the sea.)
Antonyms
fresh (Not salty; often used for inland air or fresh water.)
Themes
nature
|travel
Definition
It smells or tastes like the sea.
Having the smell or taste of seawater; like the air near the ocean.
C1
INFORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
[price/cost/bill] is salty; a bit salty
The drinks were a bit salty for such small glasses.
Az italok ára kissé borsos volt ahhoz képest, hogy ilyen kis poharakban adták őket.
Parking downtown is pretty salty on weekends.
A belvárosi parkolás hétvégén elég húzós.
The repair bill was salty, but we didn’t have a choice.
Learner examples
The tickets are salty.
A jegyek ára borsos.
Common mistake:
This meaning is more common in some varieties of English; if unsure, use expensive or pricey.
Meaning
expensive for what it is
Collocations
a bit salty
|pretty salty
|salty price
|salty bill
|salty rates
|salty fees
Synonyms
pricey (Common informal word for expensive.)
|
steep (Often used for prices that feel unreasonably high.)
|
overpriced (Directly states the price is too high for the value.)
Antonyms
cheap (Low in price.)
|
affordable (Reasonably priced for most people.)
Themes
money
|shopping
|travel
Definition
Too expensive (informal).
Costing more than expected or seeming overpriced.
C1
INFORMAL
5
Usage pattern:
salty [language/joke/story/humor]
The show can get a little salty after midnight.
A műsor éjfél után kissé szabadszájúvá válhat.
He apologized for using salty language in front of the kids.
Bocsánatot kért, amiért trágár szavakat használt a gyerekek előtt.
Some of the jokes were too salty for my taste.
Learner examples
That joke is salty.
Az a vicc elég pikáns.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse this with the taste meaning; here it describes words or jokes.
Meaning
coarse or risqué
Collocations
salty language
|salty joke
|salty humor
|salty remark
|salty story
|a little salty
Synonyms
raunchy (More strongly sexual.)
|
risqué (Suggestive but often playful and less crude.)
|
coarse (Emphasizes lack of refinement and possible offensiveness.)
Antonyms
clean (Not offensive; suitable for general audiences.)
|
polite (Socially acceptable and respectful.)
Themes
communication
|humor
|media
Definition
A little rude or not polite.
Containing rude, sexually suggestive, or slightly offensive language or humor.
C2
LITERARY
6
sokat látott
B2
edzett
B1
Usage pattern:
a salty [sailor/veteran/old man]
A salty old sailor sat at the bar telling stories.
Egy sokat látott öreg tengerész ült a bárban, és történeteket mesélt.
They hired a salty veteran who had seen every kind of problem.
Egy sokat látott veteránt vettek fel, aki már mindenféle problémával találkozott.
Her voice had the salty confidence of someone who’d worked outdoors for decades.
Common mistake:
This sense is less common and can sound old-fashioned outside sea-related contexts.
Meaning
tough, seasoned, and experienced
Collocations
salty old sailor
|salty veteran
|salty old dog
|salty captain
Synonyms
seasoned (Common word for very experienced; not sea-specific.)
|
hardened (Emphasizes toughness gained through difficulty.)
|
weathered (Suggests age and experience from harsh conditions.)
Antonyms
inexperienced (Not having much experience.)
|
green (Informal; new and untrained.)
Themes
work
|people
|travel
Definition
Experienced and tough (often about sailors).
Tough and experienced, especially from life at sea or long, hard work.
Grammar
Dictionary form
salty
IPA
GB/sˈɔlti/
US/sˈɔlti/
Syllables & stress
salty (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (salty)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: salty
- Comparative: saltier
- Superlative: saltiest
Expressions
be salty (about [something])
1/bˈi sˈɔlti əbˈaʊt sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
slang
be annoyed or resentful
To be angry or upset about something (informal).
Examples
- She’s still salty about the way the project ended.
- Why are you so salty about a harmless joke?
- They were salty about the referee’s call.
Learner examples
- He is salty about losing.
get salty
1/ɡˈɛt sˈɔlti/
fixed phrase
slang
become annoyed or resentful
To start feeling angry or upset (informal).
Examples
- He got salty when his idea was ignored.
- Try not to get salty if you don’t win.
- People get salty in the comments section really fast.
Learner examples
- Don’t get salty.
salty dog
1/sˈɔlti dˈɔɡ/
fixed phrase
vodka grapefruit cocktail
A drink with vodka (or gin) and grapefruit juice, with salt on the glass.
Examples
- I ordered a Salty Dog with a salted rim.
- The bartender recommended the Salty Dog because I like grapefruit.
- They served Salty Dogs in tall glasses with lots of ice.
Learner examples
- I want a Salty Dog.
stay salty
1/stˈeɪ sˈɔlti/
fixed phrase
slang
keep being upset (taunt)
A rude way to say: keep being angry.
Examples
- He replied, “Stay salty,” and muted the chat.
- If you don’t like the decision, stay salty—I’m moving on.
- They posted “stay salty” under every complaint.