Salt in Different Languages
Discover 'Salt' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Salt is more than just a seasoning; it's a vital mineral that has played a significant role in human history. From preserving food to serving as a unit of exchange in ancient times, salt has been a prized commodity across cultures. In fact, the word 'salary' is derived from the Latin word 'salarium,' which referred to the money given to Roman soldiers to buy salt!
Understanding the translation of 'salt' in different languages can offer a fascinating glimpse into cultural differences and similarities. For instance, in Spanish, salt is 'sal,' while in French, it's 'sel.' In Mandarin Chinese, it's 'yan,' and in Japanese, it's 'shio.' These variations not only reflect linguistic diversity but also the global impact of this essential mineral.
So, whether you're a language enthusiast, a foodie, or a history buff, exploring the translations of 'salt' can be a delicious journey of discovery. Keep reading to uncover more about this common yet extraordinary substance!
Salt
Salt in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | sout | ||
| The word "sout" (salt) in Afrikaans is derived from the Old Dutch word "sout," which also meant "salty water" or "brine." | |||
| Amharic | ጨው | ||
| The word "ጨው" in Amharic can also refer to a type of rock salt used for flavoring food. | |||
| Hausa | gishiri | ||
| The word "gishiri" in Hausa has Arabic origins and is related to the word "shir" meaning "milk". | |||
| Igbo | nnu | ||
| Igbo word "nnu" is originally a plural noun which also means "ashes" or "lime". | |||
| Malagasy | sira | ||
| The Malagasy word "sira" is thought to be derived from the Arabic word "sirr" meaning "secret", referring to the salt crystals' ability to preserve and conceal. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | mchere | ||
| "Mchere" also translates to "the place of ashes or fire". The "che" suffix in "mchere" implies heat, making the term appropriate for both salt (which can result from the evaporation of seawater over fire) and ashes (a product of burning). | |||
| Shona | munyu | ||
| The word "munyu" can also refer to the residue left after brewing beer. | |||
| Somali | cusbo | ||
| The word 'cusbo' also refers to the traditional salt-making process in Somalia. | |||
| Sesotho | letsoai | ||
| The word 'letsoai' shares its root with the noun 'lejoe' (stone), suggesting a historical connection between salt and rock formations. | |||
| Swahili | chumvi | ||
| "Chumvi," the Swahili word for "salt," is also used to mean "friend" or "companion". | |||
| Xhosa | ityuwa | ||
| The Xhosa word for 'salt', 'ityuwa', comes from the Bantu root '-tyuw-', meaning 'to draw'. | |||
| Yoruba | iyọ | ||
| The Yoruba word "iyọ" can also refer to a type of herbal medicine used to treat stomach ailments. | |||
| Zulu | usawoti | ||
| The Zulu word for "salt" is derived from the Proto-Bantu word "*suta". | |||
| Bambara | kɔgɔ | ||
| Ewe | dze | ||
| Kinyarwanda | umunyu | ||
| Lingala | mungwa | ||
| Luganda | omunnyo | ||
| Sepedi | letswai | ||
| Twi (Akan) | nkyene | ||
Salt in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | ملح | ||
| "ملح" (salt) is also an idiom for something good or beneficial in Arabic. | |||
| Hebrew | מלח | ||
| The word "מלח" ("salt") in Hebrew is derived from the same root as the word "לחם" ("bread"), which hints at the importance of salt in the ancient Israelite diet. | |||
| Pashto | مالګه | ||
| The Pashto word "مالګه" (salt) likely derives from the Proto-Indo-European root "*melg-," meaning "to rub or grind," suggesting its association with the physical act of grinding salt crystals. | |||
| Arabic | ملح | ||
| "ملح" (salt) is also an idiom for something good or beneficial in Arabic. | |||
Salt in Western European Languages
| Albanian | kripë | ||
| "Kripë" derives from the Proto-Albanian form \*krips- and is cognate with Latin **crispus** which means "curly" (referring to the shape in which salt crystals can often be found}. | |||
| Basque | gatza | ||
| {"text": "The Basque word "gatza" for "salt" is related to the Indo-European root *ǵhól-, meaning "to shine" or "to be bright," indicating its association with sea salt's crystalline structure."} | |||
| Catalan | sal | ||
| Catalan "sal" also means "salary" or "wage", deriving from Medieval Latin "salarium", originally meaning "salt money" given to Roman soldiers to buy salt. | |||
| Croatian | sol | ||
| The Croatian word **sol** also means "earth", sharing its root word with "sun" (**sunce** in Croatian). | |||
| Danish | salt | ||
| In Danish, the word "salt" also refers to the chemical element sodium chloride, which is composed of sodium and chlorine atoms. | |||
| Dutch | zout | ||
| Zout can also mean "very" or "a lot" in Dutch slang. | |||
| English | salt | ||
| The word "salt" is derived from the Latin word "sal"," meaning "salty". | |||
| French | sel | ||
| "Sel" can also refer to mind and wisdom or to horse saddle. | |||
| Frisian | sâlt | ||
| In the Frisian language, "sâlt" not only refers to edible salt but also signifies "salty" and "saltiness." | |||
| Galician | sal | ||
| "Sal" comes from the Latin "salem" meaning "salt" or the Celtic word "salann" which has the meaning of "salty liquid". | |||
| German | salz- | ||
| The German word "Salz-" derives from the Proto-Germanic word "salta-," and is related to the English word "salt" and the Latin word "sal," both of which also mean "salt." | |||
| Icelandic | salt | ||
| In Icelandic, "salt" can also refer to a type of seagull. | |||
| Irish | salann | ||
| The Irish word for 'salt' ('salann') also means 'saline' or 'salty' in English. | |||
| Italian | sale | ||
| "Sale" can also mean "discount" or "reduction" in price in Italian. | |||
| Luxembourgish | salz | ||
| The Luxembourgish word "Salz" can also refer to the saline coating left on the ground after water has evaporated from a road or field. | |||
| Maltese | melħ | ||
| The Maltese word "melħ" (salt) is derived from the Arabic word "milh", which also means "salt". | |||
| Norwegian | salt | ||
| In Norwegian, "salt" can also refer to "salty water" or "a gathering of people". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | sal | ||
| The word "sal" in Portuguese can also refer to the substance "chalk" or to the musical note "sol". | |||
| Scots Gaelic | salann | ||
| The Gaelic for salt, "salann," is also the root for words such as "seileach" (a salt-water lake) and "salach" (dirty). | |||
| Spanish | sal | ||
| Spanish "sal" derives from Latin "salem" (salt), and in colloquial Spanish "sal" also refers to someone who makes others laugh, and to the "punchline" in jokes and stories. | |||
| Swedish | salt- | ||
| "Salt" in Swedish can also refer to a type of sheep or goat | |||
| Welsh | halen | ||
| The Welsh word "halen" is cognate with the English word "salt" and also means "brine". | |||
Salt in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | соль | ||
| The Belarusian word "соль" also means "music scale" in Russian. | |||
| Bosnian | sol | ||
| The term 'sol' may also refer to the Roman god of the sun or the musical note 'sol' (G) | |||
| Bulgarian | сол | ||
| The word «сол» in Bulgarian derives from Latin «sal»; in Old Church Slavonic, it meant «a ritual offering», and, later, «an offering that is consumed». | |||
| Czech | sůl | ||
| Czech "sůl" (salt) is related to "slunko" (sun) and Slavic "solnьce" (sun). | |||
| Estonian | sool | ||
| The word "sool" in Estonian is derived from the Proto-Finnic word *suola, and is related to words for "salt" in other Finnic languages, such as Finnish "suola" and Karelian "šuola." | |||
| Finnish | suola | ||
| The Finnish word 'suola' can also refer to a type of fish known as the vendace. | |||
| Hungarian | só | ||
| 'Só' also shares a root with the word 'súly' ('weight'), referring to its heaviness and preserving qualities. | |||
| Latvian | sāls | ||
| The word "sāls" in Latvian also has the meaning of "cleverness" or "wisdom". | |||
| Lithuanian | druska | ||
| The word "druska" is also used in Lithuanian to refer to a deposit of salt or a saltworks. | |||
| Macedonian | сол | ||
| The word "сол" in Macedonian also has the alternate meaning of "tear". | |||
| Polish | sól | ||
| The word "sól" in Polish also has connotations of prosperity, wisdom, and protection from evil spirits. | |||
| Romanian | sare | ||
| The word 'sare' also has a secondary meaning, referring to the salty taste or quality of food. | |||
| Russian | соль | ||
| The word "соль" in Russian has an alternate meaning which is "note" in music. | |||
| Serbian | со | ||
| The word 'со' (salt) in Serbian also refers to the salt lakes found in the country. | |||
| Slovak | soľ | ||
| The word "soľ" is derived from the Proto-Slavic "solь" meaning "salt" and is cognate with the German "Salz" and the English "salt." | |||
| Slovenian | sol | ||
| It shares its root with the Latin word "sale" ( | |||
| Ukrainian | сіль | ||
| The Proto-Slavic word *solь is also found in the names of places in Ukraine, such as the cities of Soledar and Solomyansk | |||
Salt in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | লবণ | ||
| The word "লবণ" also refers to a type of soil that is rich in salt and is commonly found in coastal areas. | |||
| Gujarati | મીઠું | ||
| The Gujarati word ''મીઠું'' can also mean pleasant or agreeable. | |||
| Hindi | नमक | ||
| The word "नमक" also denotes hospitality in Hindi, reflecting its cultural importance in Indian society. | |||
| Kannada | ಉಪ್ಪು | ||
| The word 'ಉಪ್ಪು' ('salt') in Kannada is derived from the Sanskrit word 'क्षार' ('alkali'), ultimately originating from the Proto-Indo-European root '*keu-' ('to burn') | |||
| Malayalam | ഉപ്പ് | ||
| The word "ഉപ്പ്" comes from the Proto-Dravidian word *uppu, which also means "salty". | |||
| Marathi | मीठ | ||
| In Marathi, the word "मीठ" (salt) also refers to a "sweetheart" or a "lover." | |||
| Nepali | नुन | ||
| The word 'नुन' (salt) in Nepali also refers to the 'taste' of something, and is related to the Hindi word 'नमक' (salt). | |||
| Punjabi | ਲੂਣ | ||
| The word "ਲੂਣ" (salt) is derived from the Sanskrit word "लवण" (lavaṇa), which means "salty". It also refers to the salty efflorescence found on the surface of the soil in arid regions. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ලුණු | ||
| The word "ලුණු" (salt) may have originated from the Proto-Dravidian root word "*luṇi," which also denotes salt. | |||
| Tamil | உப்பு | ||
| In Old Tamil, 'உப்பு' denoted 'brine or sea-water' too | |||
| Telugu | ఉ ప్పు | ||
| The word "ఉ ప్పు" (salt) in Telugu also refers to a mixture of salt and turmeric that is used in Hindu religious ceremonies. | |||
| Urdu | نمک | ||
| In Urdu "نمک" can also refer to grace, favor, or kindness within a relationship. | |||
Salt in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 盐 | ||
| The Chinese word for 'salt', 盐, is also used to mean 'salary'. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 鹽 | ||
| The character "鹽" (salt) is composed of "日" (sun) and "鹵" (salty soil), reflecting its natural origins from the evaporation of seawater or salt lakes. | |||
| Japanese | 塩 | ||
| The Japanese word for "salt", "塩", is theorized to have originated from the Proto-Austronesian word for "salt", "*asεn". | |||
| Korean | 소금 | ||
| The word "소금" (salt) is derived from the Middle Korean word "소금", which in turn comes from the Proto-Korean word *sɔŋkɔm. | |||
| Mongolian | давс | ||
| The word "давс" (salt) is derived from the Proto-Mongolic root *dabs-. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ဆားငန် | ||
Salt in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | garam | ||
| The word garam in Indonesian can also mean salty or spicy and is also found commonly across Malay and Javanese languages. | |||
| Javanese | uyah | ||
| "Uyah" is derived from Proto-Austronesian *qusaj"salt" and is cognate with Malay "garam" and Filipino "asin" "salt". | |||
| Khmer | អំបិល | ||
| The word "អំបិល" also refers to a traditional fermented fish paste used as a condiment in Cambodian cuisine. | |||
| Lao | ເກືອ | ||
| The word "ເກືອ" can also refer to a mineral or chemical compound. | |||
| Malay | garam | ||
| The word "garam" also refers to the saline taste of food or water, or to the feeling of saltiness on the skin. | |||
| Thai | เกลือ | ||
| The Thai word "เกลือ" (salt) is derived from the Sanskrit word "kshara", which also means "alkali" or "base" in chemistry. | |||
| Vietnamese | muối | ||
| The Vietnamese word "Muối" also means "salty" or "salty water". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | asin | ||
Salt in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | duz | ||
| The word "duz" has various meanings in Azerbaijani, including "correct", "tasteless", and "flat". | |||
| Kazakh | тұз | ||
| The Kazakh word "тұз" can be traced back to the Proto-Turkic word "tuz", meaning "salt brine." | |||
| Kyrgyz | туз | ||
| Kyrgyz «туз» "salt" also refers to "a clever, resourceful, experienced person". | |||
| Tajik | намак | ||
| The word "намак" is derived from Persian "namak" and also means "a person who is not very sociable or friendly" | |||
| Turkmen | duz | ||
| Uzbek | tuz | ||
| The Proto-Indo-European root of the word | |||
| Uyghur | تۇز | ||
Salt in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | paʻakai | ||
| The word "paʻakai" can also refer to a "salt pan" or a "salty or brackish pool of water". | |||
| Maori | tote | ||
| As well as meaning "salt", the word "tote" can also mean "to carry" in Maori. | |||
| Samoan | masima | ||
| The Samoan word "masima" is a reduplication of "ma" meaning "to eat" or "food". | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | asin | ||
| The word "asin" in Tagalog may also refer to the chemical symbol of salt, "NaCl", or the act of salting something. | |||
Salt in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | jayu | ||
| Guarani | juky | ||
Salt in International Languages
| Esperanto | salo | ||
| Esperanto's "salo" also derives from the same Latin root as French "salle" and Italian "sala," meaning "room". | |||
| Latin | salis | ||
| The Latin "salis" means not only salt; it can also describe wisdom from an alternate root "sapi" meaning "taste" as in "sapience". | |||
Salt in Others Languages
| Greek | άλας | ||
| The word "άλας" in Greek can also refer to the divine or sacred, as in the phrase "άλας θεών" (salt of the gods). | |||
| Hmong | ntsev | ||
| The word "ntsev" also means "salty water" or "brine" in the Hmong language. | |||
| Kurdish | xwê | ||
| The Proto-Indo-European root of "xwê" is "*h₂seH-", meaning "dry" or "parched". | |||
| Turkish | tuz | ||
| The word 'tuz' in Turkish derives from the Persian word 'tȗz', which can also mean 'hoarfrost' or 'frost' | |||
| Xhosa | ityuwa | ||
| The Xhosa word for 'salt', 'ityuwa', comes from the Bantu root '-tyuw-', meaning 'to draw'. | |||
| Yiddish | זאַלץ | ||
| In the Yiddish language, "zaltz" also means "intelligence". | |||
| Zulu | usawoti | ||
| The Zulu word for "salt" is derived from the Proto-Bantu word "*suta". | |||
| Assamese | নিমখ | ||
| Aymara | jayu | ||
| Bhojpuri | निमक | ||
| Dhivehi | ލޮނު | ||
| Dogri | लून | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | asin | ||
| Guarani | juky | ||
| Ilocano | asin | ||
| Krio | sɔl | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | خوێ | ||
| Maithili | नून | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯊꯨꯝ | ||
| Mizo | chi | ||
| Oromo | soogidda | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଲୁଣ | ||
| Quechua | kachi | ||
| Sanskrit | लवणं | ||
| Tatar | тоз | ||
| Tigrinya | ጨው | ||
| Tsonga | munyu | ||