saliva

Meaning

A clear, slightly alkaline liquid secreted into the mouth by the salivary glands and mucous glands, consisting of water, mucin, protein, and enzymes. It moistens the mouth, lubricates ingested food, and begins the breakdown of starches.

Synonyms

spittle

spit

drool

sputum

slaver

slobber

foam

froth

slime

dribble

saver

sweat

😓

thick

water

🚰

ptysma

Spit

hockle

abundant

spettle

board

drivel

mucoid

mucus

phlegm

region

rise

salivate

salivation

Translations

salive

saliva

Speichel

saliva

saliva

speeksel

Spucke

saliva

saliva

bave

σάλιο

zever

لعاب

kwijl

Pronounced as (IPA)

/səˈlaɪvə/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: salive

Cognate with Old English: salu

In summary

A learned borrowing from Latin salīva (“spittle”), replacing or merging with Middle English salive, salve (“saliva”), from the same Latin source. Further origin uncertain. Perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *salw-, *sal- (“dirt, dirty”), cognate with Old English salu (“dark, dusky”). More at sallow.