World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesSalt of the earth
/ˌsɔːlt əv ði ˈɜːθ/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
1 sense- 1
A very good, honest, and reliable person or group of people.
"My grandfather has lived in the same rural town his whole life and is truly the salt of the earth, always helping neighbors without expecting anything in return."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
This phrase originates from the New Testament of the Bible, specifically from the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew (5:13), where Jesus refers to his disciples as 'the salt of the earth'. Historically, salt was an essential commodity used for preserving food and enhancing flavor, imbuing the metaphor with notions of high value, integrity, and foundational importance. Over centuries, the religious nuance softened into a secular idiom describing an exceptionally honest, reliable, and kind person.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Salt of the earth"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Salt of the earth" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
la crème de la crème
Transliteration: la krem de la krem
"Il est vraiment quelqu'un de bien, le sel de la terre."
der Anker der Gesellschaft
Transliteration: der Anker der Gesellschaft
"Er ist ein ehrlicher Mensch, ein echter Fels in der Brandung."
il sale della terra
Transliteration: il sale della terra
"Quella famiglia è il sale della terra, sempre pronta ad aiutare."
la sal de la tierra
Transliteration: la sal de la tierra
"Los lugareños son la sal de la tierra, muy amables y hospitalarios."
o sal da terra
Transliteration: o sal da terra
"As pessoas daquela comunidade são o sal da terra."
नेdव व्यक्ति
Transliteration: nek vyakti
Script: नेक व्यक्ति
"वह गाँव के सबसे भले और नेक इंसानों में से एक है।"
大地的盐
Transliteration: dà dì de yán
"老农夫一生勤劳朴实，真是大地的盐。"
세상의 소금
Transliteration: sesang-ui sogeum
"그는 사회에서 진정한 세상의 소금 같은 역할을 하는 사람이다."
掛け替えのない人
Transliteration: kakegae no nai hito
"彼は地域社会にとって本当に素晴らしい人柄の持ち主だ。"
Related Vocabulary Words to Explore
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A formal, documented account of findings, investigations, or statistics issued by an authoritative body or government agency.
Used to express pleasure, realization, surprise, or understanding.
Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Salt of the earth"
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