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sel

salt

noun SEL Less Common
Food & Drink Ingredients

Origin: Latin 'sal'

Also means

wit, sharpness

Usage Note

Sel is a mass noun used without an article in general statements (manger sans sel = eating without salt). Figuratively, le sel de la plaisanterie means the 'spice' or wit of a joke. The compound sel de bain is bath salt, and sel de mer is sea salt. The adjective salé means salty or (informally) expensive.

Examples

"Ajoute un peu de sel dans la soupe."

Natural Translation

Add a little salt to the soup.

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