salsa
/SAHL-sah/
sauce
Salsa meaning 'sauce' or food condiment.
salsa(noun)
sauce
?food condiment
,dressing
?salad topping
dip
?for chips or vegetables
,gravy
?meat topping
📝 In Action
La salsa de tomate es esencial para la pasta.
A1Tomato sauce is essential for pasta.
¿Quieres un poco de salsa picante para tus tacos?
A1Do you want some hot sauce for your tacos?
Prefiero la ensalada con vinagreta en lugar de una salsa cremosa.
A2I prefer the salad with vinaigrette instead of a creamy dressing.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Check
Since 'salsa' ends in '-a' and is feminine, you must use the feminine article 'la' or 'una' with it.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'salsa' and 'jugo'
Mistake: "Using 'jugo' (juice) when you mean 'salsa' (sauce)."
Correction: 'Jugo' is usually a drink from fruit; 'salsa' is a thickened, cooked condiment for food.
⭐ Usage Tips
Sauce Types
Always add an adjective or phrase starting with 'de' to specify the type of sauce: 'salsa verde,' 'salsa de tomate.'
Salsa as a vibrant Latin music and dance genre.
📝 In Action
Me encanta bailar salsa los fines de semana.
A2I love dancing salsa on the weekends.
El ritmo de la salsa es muy contagioso.
B1The rhythm of salsa music is very contagious.
💡 Grammar Points
Verb Partner
When talking about the dance, 'salsa' almost always follows the verb 'bailar' (to dance).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up the origin
Mistake: "Thinking salsa is only from one country."
Correction: Salsa music is a mix of many Caribbean and Latin American rhythms, particularly Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Colombian.
⭐ Usage Tips
Cultural Note
When someone says 'salsa,' they almost always mean the music/dance, unless you are actively talking about food.
Salsa meaning 'spice', used metaphorically to describe excitement or vigor.
📝 In Action
El nuevo entrenador le puso mucha salsa al equipo.
B2The new coach added a lot of spice/flair to the team.
A esta reunión le falta un poco de salsa.
C1This meeting is missing a bit of excitement.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Use
This meaning is an extension of the food definition, suggesting something that makes life or an activity more flavorful or interesting.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
Use this meaning primarily in casual settings when describing a performance, a person's style, or a dull event that needs energy.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: salsa
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'salsa' in its figurative meaning of 'excitement' or 'flair'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Are 'salsa' (sauce) and 'salsa' (music) related?
Yes, they are! The music genre got its name because it was seen as a 'spicy' or 'flavorful' mix of different Caribbean rhythms, similar to how a culinary sauce is a flavorful mix of ingredients. It means 'spice' or 'flair' figuratively.
Is 'salsa' always spicy?
No. While many popular Mexican salsas are spicy (picantes), the word 'salsa' itself just means 'sauce.' A tomato sauce ('salsa de tomate') is usually not spicy.