sel/sɛl/
noun · A2 · Frequency 2391
nounmasculine
Meanings
table salt, i.e. sodium chloride (NaCl)
Refers to salt used in everyday cooking.
smelling salts
Refers to smelling salts used as a stimulant.
Examples
Ajoute une pincée de sel à la soupe.
Add a pinch of salt to the soup.
Ce fromage a besoin d'un peu de sel pour relever son goût.
This cheese needs a little seasoning to enhance its flavor.
Le sel se dissout rapidement dans l'eau chaude.
Salt dissolves quickly in hot water.
Collocations
- sel de cuisinetable salt
- sel d'odeursmelling salts
- sel aromatiquearomatic salt
Common mistakes
un sel
du sel
As an uncountable noun, “sel” is usually not used with an indefinite article but with a partitive article.
sels
sel
“Sel” is usually uncountable; plural form is rare and learners often mistakenly use it.
Related words
synonymchlorure de sodiumsodium chloride
synonymammoniaque aromatiquesmelling salts
nounmasculine
Meanings
table salt, i.e. sodium chloride (NaCl)
Refers to salt used in everyday cooking.
smelling salts
Refers to smelling salts used as a stimulant.
Examples
Les sels de table sont conservés dans un petit bocal près de la cuisinière.
Table salt is kept in a small jar near the stove.
L'infirmière a utilisé des sels pour aider le patient à reprendre connaissance.
The nurse used smelling salts to help the patient regain consciousness.
Certains sels donnent une saveur particulière aux plats de légumes.
Some seasonings give vegetable dishes a distinctive flavor.