What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
saliva
Example
The smell of food made my mouth water, and I could feel the saliva building up. [saliva: noun]
Example
The doctor asked me to spit into a cup to collect a sample of my saliva. [saliva: noun]
drool
Example
The baby was drooling all over his bib while teething. [drooling: gerund or present participle]
Example
The sight of the delicious food made me drool with anticipation. [drool: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Saliva is a more common term than drool in everyday language, as it is a neutral and versatile term used in various contexts. Drool is less common and often used in informal or colloquial language.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between saliva and drool?
Saliva is a more formal term used in scientific or medical contexts, while drool is more informal and colloquial, often used in casual conversation or humor.