Saliva - Meaning, Usage, and Translations Across 30 Languages

The Word “Saliva”: Meaning, Usage, and Translations Across 30 Languages

Meaning of “Saliva”

“Saliva” is the watery fluid secreted by the salivary glands in the mouth. It plays a vital role in the digestion of food, moistening the mouth, and aiding in the formation of the food bolus, which makes it easier to swallow. Saliva also contains enzymes that begin the process of breaking down food, particularly starches. Additionally, it serves as a natural cleanser for the mouth and helps to maintain oral hygiene by flushing away food particles and neutralizing acids that can lead to cavities.

Saliva is typically clear and colorless, although it can vary in consistency, depending on factors such as hydration or the presence of certain substances.

Usage of “Saliva” in Different Contexts

Biological Role:
“The enzymes in saliva help to break down starches in food.”
In this example, saliva is used to describe its biological function in the digestive system.
Medical Context:
“The doctor examined the patient’s saliva for signs of infection.”
Here, saliva is mentioned in a medical context, where it can be tested for various conditions.
Figurative Usage:
“She was so hungry that she could feel saliva building up in her mouth.”
Saliva is often referenced in relation to anticipation or desire, especially when thinking about food.
Cultural or Everyday Context:
“The baby drooled a lot as saliva dripped from his mouth.”
This is an everyday example where saliva is described in the context of natural body functions.
Animal Kingdom:
“The dog eagerly licked its bowl, leaving a trail of saliva behind.”
Saliva is often used to describe the behavior of animals, especially pets like dogs.

Translations of “Saliva” in 30 Languages

The word “saliva” is universally recognized in most languages, given its fundamental role in human biology. Below are translations of “saliva” in 30 different languages, along with example sentences showing how the word is used.

Language	Translation	Example Sentence
English	Saliva	“Excessive saliva production can be a sign of a health condition.”
Spanish	Saliva	“La saliva ayuda en el proceso de digestión.” (Saliva helps in the digestion process.)
French	Salive	“La salive joue un rôle crucial dans la digestion des aliments.” (Saliva plays a crucial role in the digestion of food.)
German	Speichel	“Der Speichel hilft bei der Verdauung von Nahrung.” (Saliva helps in the digestion of food.)
Italian	Saliva	“La saliva è importante per mantenere l’umidità nella bocca.” (Saliva is important for keeping moisture in the mouth.)
Portuguese	Saliva	“A saliva contém enzimas que ajudam na digestão.” (Saliva contains enzymes that help in digestion.)
Russian	Слюна (Slyuna)	“Медики исследуют слюну на наличие инфекций.” (Doctors examine saliva for infections.)
Chinese	唾液 (Tuòyè)	“唾液有助于食物的消化。” (Saliva helps in the digestion of food.)
Japanese	唾液 (Dareki)	“食べ物を飲み込む前に、唾液が口の中で分泌されます。” (Saliva is secreted in the mouth before swallowing food.)
Korean	침 (Chim)	“침은消化과 입안을 청결하게 유지하는 데 중요하다.” (Saliva is important for digestion and maintaining oral cleanliness.)
Hindi	लार (Lār)	“उत्साह में व्यक्ति की लार अधिक निकलने लगती है।” (In excitement, a person’s saliva increases.)
Bengali	লালা (Lālā)	“ভাল খাবারের কথা মনে করলে লালা বাড়ে।” (Thinking of good food increases saliva.)
Turkish	Salya	“Çok tuzlu yiyecekler, salya üretimini artırabilir.” (Very salty foods can increase saliva production.)
Dutch	Speeksel	“Te veel speeksel kan wijzen op een mondgezondheidsprobleem.” (Too much saliva can indicate an oral health problem.)
Swedish	Saliv	“Din saliv hjälper till att bryta ner maten i munnen.” (Your saliva helps break down food in the mouth.)
Norwegian	Spytt	“Spytt er viktig for å holde munnen fuktig.” (Saliva is important for keeping the mouth moist.)
Greek	Σάλιο (Sálio)	“Η σάλιο βοηθά στην πέψη των τροφών.” (Saliva helps in the digestion of food.)
Polish	Ślina	“Za dużo śliny może być objawem problemów zdrowotnych.” (Too much saliva can be a symptom of health issues.)
Czech	Slina	“Slina je důležitá pro udržení vlhkosti v ústech.” (Saliva is important for keeping moisture in the mouth.)
Finnish	Sylki	“Sylki auttaa ruoansulatuksessa.” (Saliva helps in digestion.)
Hungarian	Nyál	“A nyál segít a táplálék lebontásában.” (Saliva helps in the breakdown of food.)
Hebrew	רוק (Rok)	“הרוק עוזר בתהליך העיכול.” (Saliva helps in the process of digestion.)
Thai	น้ำลาย (Nám Lāy)	“น้ำลายช่วยในการย่อยอาหาร.” (Saliva helps in digestion.)
Indonesian	Air liur	“Gula dapat meningkatkan produksi air liur.” (Sugar can increase saliva production.)
Malay	Air liur	“Kita menelan air liur beberapa kali sehari.” (We swallow saliva several times a day.)
Vietnamese	Nước bọt	“Nước bọt giúp làm mềm thức ăn trước khi nuốt.” (Saliva helps soften food before swallowing.)
Ukrainian	Слина (Sylina)	“У нього була велика кількість слини.” (He had a large amount of saliva.)
Romanian	Salivă	“Saliva ajută la digestia alimentelor.” (Saliva helps in the digestion of food.)
Swahili	Mate	“Mate husaidia katika kumeng’enya chakula.” (Saliva helps in the digestion of food.)
Persian	بزاق (Bzāq)	“آب دهان به هضم غذا کمک می‌کند.” (Saliva helps in digestion.)
Malayalam	ചെറുനൂല് (Cheṟunūl)	“ചെറുനൂല് ഭക്ഷണം ദഹിപ്പിക്കുന്നതിന് സഹായിക്കുന്നു.” (Saliva helps in the digestion of food.)
Tamil	வினையெதிர் (Vinaiththir)	“வினையெதிர் உணவு ஊட்டத்தின் முதன்மையான உதவி.” (Saliva is the primary aid in food digestion.)
Arabic	لعاب (Lu’āb)	“اللُعَاب يساعد في هضم الطعام.” (Saliva helps in digesting food.)

The word “saliva” is used in various contexts, primarily biological and medical, but also in everyday situations. It plays a crucial role in maintaining oral health, aiding digestion, and protecting against infections. While its scientific function is universally acknowledged, the concept of saliva is also explored in cultural and metaphorical contexts, often symbolizing anticipation, desire, or natural bodily functions. Across many languages, the word for saliva maintains similar associations, underscoring its importance in both the physiological and cultural realms.