Spanish · Food & Drink
"Sauce" in Spanish: salsa
la salsa
Sauce is la salsa (SAHL-sah), a feminine noun. On plates it means any sauce: salsa de tomate, salsa verde. In Mexico salsa often points to the spicy table dips. The dance called salsa shares the word; context makes the meaning clear.
At a taquería
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How to pronounce salsa
Say it
SAHL-sah
/ˈsal.sa/
SAHL-sah, stress on SAHL. Soft s sounds, not English "sauce". Both syllables stay open and clear for salsa.
"Sauce" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la salsa | sauce; salsa (dip) Default for sauces; in Mexico also the spicy dip. | Default for sauces; in Mexico also the spicy dip. |
| la salsa verde | green sauce Tomatillo-based sauce common in Mexican cooking. | Tomatillo-based sauce common in Mexican cooking. |
| la salsa de tomate | tomato sauce Pasta or cooked tomato sauce. | Pasta or cooked tomato sauce. |
| sin salsa | without sauce Useful when you want the plate plain. | Useful when you want the plate plain. |
| la salsa roja | red sauce Red chili or tomato table salsa. | Red chili or tomato table salsa. |
How to use salsa in real life
- 1At a taquería
¿La salsa es muy picante?
Is the salsa very spicy?
Ask before you pour salsa on tacos.
- 2Pasta night
Quiero más salsa de tomate.
I want more tomato sauce.
Salsa de tomate is the pasta sense.
- 3Ordering carefully
Sin salsa, por favor.
Without sauce, please.
Short and clear when salsa is too hot.
Mistakes English speakers make with salsa
Incorrect: El salsa está caliente.
Correct: La salsa está caliente.
Salsa is feminine. Say la salsa, esta salsa, mucha salsa.
Incorrect: Pon sauce en inglés.
Correct: Pon salsa.
Use salsa for sauce. English sauce is not the Spanish food word.
Good to know
In Mexican restaurants salsa usually means the fresh or cooked chili dips on the table, not only bottled hot sauce. Pasta houses still say salsa for tomato or cream sauces. The dance salsa is the same spelling; food talk almost always stays culinary.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing salsa heat at a taco stand
ChatPal
¿Quieres salsa verde o roja?
Do you want green or red salsa?
You
Salsa verde, pero no muy picante.
Green salsa, but not too spicy.
ChatPal
Esta salsa es suave.
This salsa is mild.
You
Gracias, así está bien.
Thanks, that's fine.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Sauce" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Sauce" in Spanish
Is salsa masculine or feminine?
Feminine: la salsa, una salsa picante. Match adjectives with -a forms when needed.
Does salsa always mean spicy?
No. Salsa is any sauce. In Mexico table salsa is often spicy, but salsa de tomate may not be.
How do I say "extra sauce"?
Más salsa, por favor. Or con mucha salsa if you want it heavy.
Is the dance the same word?
Yes, salsa is also the dance. Food context almost always means sauce or dip.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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