savoury food

Meanings

1. 1noununcountableBritish

   Food that tastes salty or spicy rather than sweet, such as meat, cheese, or vegetables.

   Grammar: Uncountable, so it has no plural; use 'a savoury dish' for one item.

   Patterns

   • a savoury dish
   • savoury snacks
   • something savoury

   We had savoury food first and then a sweet dessert.

   The bakery sells both cakes and savoury food like pies and pasties.

   I prefer savoury food to chocolate.

2. 2nounpluralBritish

   Small salty snacks served with drinks before a meal.

   Grammar: Often used as 'savouries' in British English for party snacks.

   Patterns

   • serve savouries
   • nibble on savouries

   They passed round savouries and drinks at the reception.

   The guests ate all the savouries before dinner.

Common combinations

savoury food

Savoury food is served before the sweet course.

savoury dish

She made a savoury dish with rice and vegetables.

savoury snack

Nuts make a good savoury snack.

savoury flavour

The sauce has a rich, savoury flavour.

something savoury

Do you fancy something savoury for lunch?

Synonyms and how they differ

salty

Describes a strong salt taste only, while savoury can also mean spicy or simply not sweet.

spicy

Refers to strong spices or heat; savoury is broader and includes plain salty foods.

unsweetened

Means no sugar has been added, but it does not suggest a rich or tasty flavor like savoury does.

Opposites

Word family

savour noun

The taste or smell of food; also a verb meaning to enjoy slowly.

savoury adjective

Salty or spicy rather than sweet.

savouriness noun

The quality of tasting rich and savoury.

Commonly confused: savoury food or savory?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “savoury food”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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