01
salzen
to salt
To add salt to food in order to improve or change the flavor.
example
Ich glaube, du musst die Suppe noch etwas salzen.
I think you still need to salt the soup a little.
salzen
to salt
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
The verb 'salzen' (to salt) is derived directly from the noun 'das Salz' (salt). All meanings have to do with salt, either literally or figuratively.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du mir bitte das Salz geben? Ich muss die Kartoffeln noch salzen.
Can you please pass me the salt? I still need to salt the potatoes.
Context clue
The context makes the meaning clear. If people are talking about food and cooking, it refers to seasoning. If they are talking about winter, ice, and roads, it refers to spreading salt.
EXAMPLE
Du hast den Salat zu stark gesalzen.
You salted the salad too much.
Register: Colloquial
The meaning 'einen hohen Preis fordern' (to charge a high price) is colloquial. It is used to complain about an expensive bill or high prices.
EXAMPLE
Für diese kleine Reparatur hat er die Rechnung ganz schön gesalzen.
For this small repair, he really overcharged quite a bit.
Participle as adjective
In the colloquial meaning, the past participle 'gesalzen' is often used like an adjective. People then speak of 'gesalzenen Preisen' (steep prices).
EXAMPLE
Die Getränkepreise in diesem Club sind wirklich gesalzen.
The drink prices in this club are really steep.
Context: Preservation
When it is about preserving food, 'salzen' (to salt) is often used in the context of traditional methods or food production. Typical objects are fish or meat.
EXAMPLE
Um den Schinken haltbar zu machen, wird er zuerst gesalzen und dann geräuchert.
To preserve the ham, it is first salted and then smoked.
Compare with
salzen vs einlegen
to insert / pickle
'einlegen' and 'salzen' can both be used with food. 'einlegen' means placing food in a liquid, for example in vinegar, oil, or brine, so that it gains flavor or keeps longer. 'salzen' usually means adding salt to food so that it tastes better. But it can also mean preserving food with salt. That is why the words can be confused, especially with brine. Practically speaking: when a liquid and preservation are involved, 'einlegen' often fits; when seasoning with salt is meant, 'salzen' fits.
salzen
Bitte salze die Suppe erst am Ende, sonst wird sie zu stark.
Please salt the soup only at the end, otherwise it will become too strong.
einlegen
Meine Mutter legt die Gurken in Essig und Kräutern ein.
My mother pickles the cucumbers in vinegar and herbs.
In real life
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