saliva

word

/səˈɫaɪvə/
suh-LY-vuh
/sɐlˈaɪvɐ/
suh-LY-vuh

Definition

The clear liquid produced in your mouth that helps with chewing, swallowing, and digesting food.

Usage & Nuances

Saliva is mainly used in scientific, medical, and everyday contexts. Formal or technical settings may use the word instead of 'spit', which is informal. Common phrases: 'saliva test' (medical check), 'excess saliva' (medical issue).

Example Sentences

Saliva helps us swallow food.

basic

Dogs sometimes drool a lot of saliva.

basic

Doctors can test your saliva for diseases.

basic

Some medicines make your mouth dry by reducing saliva.

natural

I woke up with so much saliva on my pillow!

natural

I bit my tongue and now there's blood in my saliva.

natural