savoury
B2Neutral to formal in culinary context; literary in extended moral sense.
Definition
Meaning
Having a salty, spicy, or umami taste, as opposed to sweet; palatable, appetizing.
Morally wholesome, reputable, or respectable; in cooking, a small, often salty dish served before or after a meal (UK).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily describes food taste (salty/spicy vs sweet). The extended moral sense ('a savoury character') is now somewhat archaic or literary. In UK English, also a noun for a small, non-sweet item of food.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'savoury' (UK), 'savory' (US). The noun sense of a small, non-sweet snack is primarily UK. The adjective is used similarly for taste.
Connotations
Identical for the primary taste sense. The noun 'savoury' is a recognized category in UK cookery/meals.
Frequency
Adjective equally common. Noun usage is significantly more frequent in UK English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
taste/look/smell savourybe savourymore savoury thanVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “savoury character/reputation (literary)”
- “a savoury turn of events (rare/ironic)”
- “nothing savoury about it (negative)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; e.g., 'The company's past dealings weren't exactly savoury.'
Academic
Rare; used in food science or historical/literary texts for moral sense.
Everyday
Common, primarily in food contexts: 'I prefer savoury breakfasts.'
Technical
In culinary arts and food science to categorize flavours and dishes.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adverb
British English
- The chef sprinkled the herbs savourily over the roasted vegetables.
American English
- The meat was savoryly seasoned with garlic and rosemary.
adjective
British English
- The ploughman's lunch is a classic savoury British meal.
- He had a less than savoury reputation in his youth.
American English
- I'm craving something savory like chips or pretzels.
- The details of the scandal were not savory.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I like savoury food more than cake.
- Cheese is a savoury food.
- For breakfast, I usually have something savoury like eggs.
- The soup had a rich, savoury flavour.
- The buffet included both sweet pastries and savoury canapés.
- He was involved in some rather unsavoury business dealings.
- The chef masterfully balanced sweet, sour, and savoury notes in the sauce.
- The biography did not shy away from the subject's distinctly unsavoury past.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'savoury' and 'favour' - a savoury dish is one you'd favour if you don't have a sweet tooth.
Conceptual Metaphor
TASTE IS MORALITY (e.g., 'unsavoury' = morally distasteful).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'пикантный' in all contexts; 'savoury' is broader. The noun 'savoury' (UK) has no direct one-word Russian equivalent, often 'несладкая закуска'. 'Umami' is a specific subtype of savoury.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing with 'savour' (verb). Using 'savoury' to describe sweet-but-spicy food (e.g., gingerbread). Using the noun in US contexts where it may not be understood.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be described as 'savoury'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In its core culinary sense, yes. It describes salty, spicy, or umami flavours, as opposed to sugary ones.
Yes, but it's somewhat archaic or literary (e.g., 'a savoury character'). The negative form 'unsavoury' (disreputable) is far more common today.
'Umami' is a specific, scientific term for one of the five basic tastes (a savory, meaty, brothy quality). 'Savoury' is a broader, everyday term encompassing umami as well as salty and spicy flavours.
In traditional British dining, 'savoury' is a noun referring to a small, salty or spicy dish served at the end of a meal, after the dessert, to cleanse the palate (e.g., Welsh rarebit, angels on horseback).