SALTY

What Does Salty Mean in a Text?

Salty means "upset" or "bitter."

The word salty is widely used as slang to refer to someone who is upset or bitter about something, especially something of little real importance.

Salty is particularly common among online gamers. If someone dies a lot, is disrespected by other players, or feels aggrieved for any reason, they are often described as salty. For example:
  • Sam: Why do I always have to go through the death passage first? My kdr is taking a hammering.
  • Ali: Don't get salty. You don't always go first. We all take our turns.
This use of salty possibly derives from the act of crying salty tears. However, salty has long been used by sailors to mean jaded or bitter. It typically refers to a mariner who has been at sea for a long time and no longer has any illusions about the "romance" of a seafaring life (a "salty sea dog").

Image for Salty

When I write Salty, I mean this:

meaning of Salty

Salty is particularly common among online gamers.

Summary of Key Points

"Upset or Bitter" is the most common definition for Salty on online gaming forums and on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
Salty
Definition:Upset or Bitter
Type:Slang Word (Jargon)
Guessability:guessability level 3
3: Guessable
Typical Users:typical user

Adults and Teenagers

An Academic Look at Salty

Salty is a slang word. Slang refers to words, phrases and uses of language that are regarded as very informal and which are often restricted to a special context or a particular group of users.

Example of Salty Used in a Text

Salty
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