salsa

salsa — noun

1. A cold condiment common in Mexican cooking, prepared by mixing diced tomatoes, o

1.nounB1
Definition

A cold condiment common in Mexican cooking, prepared by mixing diced tomatoes, onions, hot chillies, lime juice, and herbs. It is typically eaten with tacos, burritos, or tortilla chips.

Example

Tanvi spooned fresh salsa onto her tacos before taking a bite.

spoon onto [food] — common verb collocation

The deli near Asher's office sells a salsa so spicy it makes his eyes water.

Common collocations
  • fresh salsa
  • mild salsa
  • spicy salsa
  • homemade salsa
  • chunky salsa
  • jar of salsa
  • salsa verde
Synonyms
  • pico de gallo

    a chunkier, fresher version of salsa without blended ingredients

  • guacamole

    a creamy dip made from avocado, not tomato-based

  • hot sauce

    a liquid seasoning made from chilli peppers, not a chunky condiment

Grammar Patterns

salsa — uncountable noun

Common Mistakes

I put salsa sauce on my chips.
I put salsa on my chips.
Salsa already means 'sauce'; 'salsa sauce' is redundant.

2. A rhythm-driven style of music built on Cuban and Puerto Rican traditions, with

2.nounB1
Definition

A rhythm-driven style of music built on Cuban and Puerto Rican traditions, with prominent brass and percussion sections. The same word also names the paired social dance that accompanies that music.

Example

Esteban and Quinn signed up for salsa classes at the community centre.

salsa classes — common noun-noun compound for lessons

The salsa at the club was so fast that Cyrus lost the beat.

Common collocations
  • salsa music
  • salsa dancing
  • salsa class
  • salsa night
  • salsa beat
  • salsa club
  • salsa dancer
Synonyms
  • merengue

    a faster, simpler Latin dance with a two-step march pattern

  • bachata

    a slower, more romantic Latin dance from the Dominican Republic

  • cumbia

    a Colombian dance style with a distinctive accented rhythm

Grammar Patterns

salsa — uncountable noun for music/dance in general

Usage Note

When referring to the music, salsa is uncountable ('She listens to salsa'). When referring to a specific song or dance style, it can be countable ('That salsa has a great trumpet solo').

Common Mistakes

I danced salsa music.
I danced to salsa music.
You dance 'to' music, not 'dance music' (which means dancing while playing).

salsa — verb

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four are Mexican-origin condiments, but they differ in ingredients and texture. Salsa is a spoonable sauce made from blended or diced tomatoes, onions, and chillies. Pico de gallo is a chunkier, uncooked version where the ingredients are left in visible pieces and no liquid is blended in. Guacamole is a creamy dip based on mashed avocado, often mixed with lime, onion, and tomato — entirely different from tomato-based salsa. Hot sauce is a thin liquid made from fermented chillies and vinegar; it adds heat without bulk. Use 'salsa' when you mean a tomato-based dip you eat with a chip or spoon over a taco; use 'pico de gallo' when the chunks are large and distinct; use 'guacamole' when the base is avocado; and use 'hot sauce' when you want just a few drops of liquid heat.

salsa ↗pico de galloguacamolehot sauce

Common collocations

Phrases

  • a bowl of salsa
  • a jar of salsa
  • a spoonful of salsa
  • a splash of salsa

Prepositions

  • salsa with [tortilla chips / tacos]
  • salsa on [food]

Etymology

LatinSpanishEnglish

From Spanish 'salsa' meaning 'sauce', which comes from Latin 'salsus' meaning 'salted'. The word entered English in the mid-1800s referring to the food. In the 1970s, New York's Latino communities adopted 'salsa' as a name for the fusion of Cuban son montuno, mambo, and other Latin rhythms — likening the musical mix to a spicy sauce. The verb 'to salsa' appeared later, following the dance's global popularity.