[Essay] What's the opposite of 'salty'?

[Mehrgan]

Hi,
Would you please tell me what the opposite of 'salty' is? Could 'bland' be a choice? Thanks.

 

[5jj]

Would you please tell me what the opposite of 'salty' is? Could 'bland' be a choice? Thanks.

The only true opposite of salty is not salty. You can contrast salty with sweet or bland, but these words are not 'opposites'.

 

[Rover_KE]

I agree with 5jj.

Note that you can buy salted or unsalted butter, but 'unsalty' is very iffy.

Rover

 

[emsr2d2]

"Salty" is one of the five main tastes which food can be sorted into. They are salty, bitter, sour, sweet and umami. Therefore, salty doesn't have an opposite, as the others said, except "not salty" which isn't really a description of a taste, simply a description of what a taste is not.

 

[moonlike]

"Salty" is one of the five main tastes which food can be sorted into. They are salty, bitter, sour, sweet and umami. Therefore, salty doesn't have an opposite, as the other said, except "not salty" which isn't really a description of a taste, simply a description of what a taste is not.

Hi,
Umami, a strong savory taste that people recognize in foods such as cheese or mushrooms.That was the definition I found in CALD. However, I didn't take it in. Could you provide more things in that taste?
Thanks a million.

P.S. A link for those who want to know more about this taste.(It didn't do the trick for me, though;-)) Umami - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Mehrgan]

Thanks to all!
Then what's the appropriate word/phrase describing something that needs more salt? You're having this soup and you believe it should have much more salt in it.

 

[5jj]

Then what's the appropriate word/phrase describing something that needs more salt? You're having this soup and you believe it should have much more salt in it.

You just have to say that it needs more salt.

 

[Rover_KE]

...or that it's short of salt.

 

[emsr2d2]

It's not salty enough.
It needs salt.
It needs more salt.
It needs some salt.
You need to add salt.
You need to add some salt.
You need to add more salt.

 

[Rover_KE]

Also 'It's short of salt'.

 

[emsr2d2]

Also "It's lacking salt".

 

[BobK]

Or 'It could possibly do with a little more salt' - it rather depends on your relationship with the cook ;-)

b

 

[Mehrgan]

Thanks to all, the answers were all so helpful!

Cheers!

 

[BobK]

As a final note, to re-emphasize the importance of context, there is a song ('Salty Dog Blues') that starts with the words

If I can't be your salty dog
I won't be your man at all
Honey let me be your salty dog.

Here the antonym of 'salty' is - I guess - something like 'celibate'! ;-)

b