French Phrase
Je préfère carrément le salé.
Meaning
I absolutely prefer the salty one. The speaker is stating a strong, unambiguous preference for something savory rather than sweet, often in the context of food or flavor choices.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to stress a clear, informal preference for a savory option—e.g., when choosing between sweet and salty snacks, dishes, or drinks. It works best in casual conversation with friends or family.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Jepréfèrecarrémentlesalé
Subject pronoun
"Je" is the first‑person singular subject pronoun, used before a verb.
Verb préférer
"préfère" is the present‑tense, 1st person singular of the verb *préférer* (to prefer).
Adverb carrément
"carrément" is a colloquial adverb meaning “absolutely, outright, without doubt”.
Definite article le
"le" introduces a specific noun or concept; here it points to the category “salé”.
Adjective salé
"salé" is an adjective meaning “savory / salty”. When used as a noun it stands for “the salty (option)”.
🗨In Conversation
Tu veux du gâteau ou des chips ?
Do you want cake or chips?
Je préfère carrément le salé.
I absolutely prefer the salty one.
✕Common Mistakes
Je préfère le salé carrément.
The adverb should stay before the noun phrase; placing it after ("le salé carrément") sounds unnatural.
Je préfère carrément à manger le salé.
When you compare two options, use the noun or adjective, not the infinitive verb (e.g., *préférer manger* is fine, but *préférer le sucré* not *préférer le sucré*).
Je préfère carrément salé.
If you are talking about a specific dish, you need the article; omitting it (*salé*) can be interpreted as an adjective without a noun.
↔Alternatives
Je préfère nettement le salé.
I clearly prefer the salty one.
Je préfère clairement le salé.
I clearly prefer the salty one.
Je préfère le salé, sans hésiter.
I prefer the salty, without hesitation.
Cultural Tip
In French cuisine the contrast between *sucré* (sweet) and *salé* (savory) is a frequent talking point, especially in snack culture. The adverb *carrément* is informal and adds a punchy, youthful tone—avoid it in formal writing or when speaking to someone you must address politely (e.g., a professor).