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"Salina" is a noun which is often translated as "salt mine", and "salar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to salt". Learn more about the difference between "salina" and "salar" below.
la salina(
sah
-
lee
-
nah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (mine)
a. salt mine
Los tres mineros que estaban atrapados en la salina fueron rescatados.The three miners that were trapped in the salt mine were rescued.
2. (depression)
a. salt pan
Un lago en el desierto se evaporó y formó una salina.The lake in the desert evaporated and formed a salt pan.
3. (refinery)
a. saltworks
Establecimos una salina junto a la costa para cosechar sal del mar.We set up a saltworks on the coast to harvest salt from the ocean.
salar(
sah
-
lahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (culinary)
a. to salt
La chef prefiere salar sus pepinos cuando hace encurtidos.The chef prefers to salt her cucumbers when she makes pickles.
b. to add salt to
¿Podrías salar los vegetales después de que los saltees?Could you add salt to the vegetables after you sauté them?
c. to put salt in
¡Pero esta sopa no sabe a nada! Por favor, sálala.But this soup doesn't taste like anything! Please, put salt in it.
2. (colloquial) (to destroy) (Central America) (Colombia) (Mexico) (Peru)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Regionalism used in Colombia
Regionalism used in Mexico
Regionalism used in Peru
a. to ruin
El huracán saló totalmente el escaparate del panadero.The hurricane completely ruined the baker's storefront.
3. (colloquial) (to ruin) (Central America) (Colombia) (Mexico) (Peru) (River Plate)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Regionalism used in Colombia
Regionalism used in Mexico
Regionalism used in Peru
a. to spoil
Los quejidos repetidos de María salaron nuestro viaje entero.Maria's constant whining spoiled our entire trip.
b. to bring bad luck
Dicen que abrir un paraguas adentro te sala.They say that opening an umbrella indoors will bring you bad luck.
c. to jinx (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Él nunca quiere que nadie le diga "Buena suerte" antes de una entrevista, porque cree que va a salarlo.He never wants anybody to tell him "Good luck" before an interview because he believes it will jinx him.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
a. salt flat
Vivimos cerca de un salar, así que no hay mucho que pueda crecer aquí.We live near a salt flat, so there is not much that can grow here.
b. salt pan
Oigo que el salar de Uyuni en Bolivia es uno de los más famosos del mundo.I hear that the salt pans of Uyuni in Bolivia are some of the most famous in the world.
salarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
5. (colloquial) (to fall apart) (Latin America)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to fall through
Le dio vergüenza decir a sus inversionistas que sus planes de negocio se salaron.He was embarrassed to tell his investors that his business plans fell through.
