Adjective
/saˈlado/
The word "salado" primarily describes something that has a high concentration of salt or tastes salty. It can also refer to food that has been seasoned with salt. Besides its literal meaning, it is used metaphorically in various contexts, including describing something that is negative or unfortunate, particularly in colloquial speech. The frequency of use is quite high in both oral and written contexts, especially in culinary discussions.
El pescado está muy salado.
"The fish is very salty."
Nunca me gustó la comida salada.
"I never liked salty food."
Ese río es salado y no se puede beber.
"That river is salty and cannot be drunk."
"Salado" is often found in idiomatic expressions, especially in colloquial Spanish. It is frequently used in a metaphorical sense to indicate someone or something that is "bad luck" or "unlucky" in certain situations.
Estar salado.
"To be unlucky."
Él siempre está salado; todo le sale mal.
"He is always unlucky; everything goes wrong for him."
Tener la sal en contra.
"To have bad luck."
Desde que empezó el proyecto, parece que tiene la sal en contra.
"Since the project started, it seems like he has bad luck."
Echarle sal a las heridas.
"To rub salt in the wounds."
No le eches sal a las heridas, ya está bastante mal.
"Don't rub salt in the wounds; it's already bad enough."
A veces, uno está salado y no lo sabe.
"Sometimes, one is unlucky and doesn't know it."
A veces, uno está salado y no lo sabe, hasta que es demasiado tarde.
"Sometimes, one is unlucky and doesn't know it until it's too late."
The term "salado" comes from the Latin "salatus," which means “salted.” The root "sal" refers to salt, emphasizing its connection to saltiness or something being seasoned.
Synonyms: - Salobre (brackish, salty) - Sazonado (seasoned)
Antonyms: - Dulce (sweet) - Desabrido (tasteless)