sal

/sal/

NounfA1

salt?The white crystal used for seasoning food.

Also:wit?Figurative, describing a person's charm or cleverness.,charm?Figurative, describing a person's personality.

📝 In Action

La sopa necesita un poco más de sal.

The soup needs a little more salt.

Pásame la sal, por favor.

Pass me the salt, please.

Mi abuela cuenta historias con mucha sal.

My grandmother tells stories with a lot of wit.

Word Connections

Synonyms

gracia (grace, wit)
chispa (spark, wit)

Common Collocations

sal de mesa – table salt
echar sal – to add salt
sal marina – sea salt

Idioms & Expressions

ponerle sal y pimienta a algo – To make something more interesting or exciting.
ser el sal de la tierra – To be a good, honest, and valuable person.

💡 Grammar Points

A Tricky Gender

Even though 'sal' doesn't end in '-a', it's a feminine word. Always say 'la sal' (the salt) or 'una sal' (a salt).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Wrong Gender

Mistake: "Pásame el sal, por favor."

Correction: Pásame la sal, por favor. Remember that 'sal' is one of those words you just have to memorize as feminine.

⭐ Usage Tips

From Kitchen to Personality

While you'll use 'sal' for food 99% of the time, listen for it when people talk about someone's personality. If someone 'tiene mucha sal,' it means they are witty, charming, and fun to be around.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: sal

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'sal' as a noun?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

salir(to leave, to go out) - verb

salado(salty) - adjective

salar(to salt) - verb

salero(salt shaker) - noun

salida(exit, departure) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'sal' (salt) feminine? It doesn't end in -a.

That's a great question! Spanish has many words whose gender doesn't follow the common '-o for masculine, -a for feminine' pattern. 'La sal' is one of them. Its gender comes from its Latin original, which was also feminine. The best way is to learn the word with its article: always think 'la sal'.

How do I know if 'sal' means 'salt' or 'leave'?

Context is everything! If it's used with food or cooking, it means 'salt'. If it's used as a command telling someone to do something, it means 'leave'. For example, 'Pásame la sal' (Pass me the salt) is clearly about food. '¡Sal de aquí!' (Get out of here!) is clearly a command.