smaka

Latvian

Alternative forms

• (dialectal) smaks

Etymology

Traditionally considered borrowed from Middle Low German smak (“taste; smell”) or Saterland Frisian smaka or Middle Dutch smake, which is supported by its use in 17th-century texts to mean not only “smell,” but also “taste.” This may however have been a purely written usage, given the absence at the time of a term for “taste;” other writings of the period suggest that the “taste” meaning was rare or unattested among speakers. If this is so, the word might actually not be a borrowing, but an indigenous formation, from the stem of the verb smakt (“to stifle; to choke; to gasp”) (q.v.), made into a 4th-declension feminine noun. Since ancient Baltic and Iranian tribes were neighbors for some time, there may also be influence from Iranian languages (cf. Ossetian смаг (smag, “odor”). Originally, smaka had a broader meaning, “smell, odor” (in general); in the 19th century, the phrase laba smaka “good odor” still occurred. Later on it switched senses with smarža (which used to mean “bad smell” but is now neutral; q.v.).

Pronunciation

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Noun

smaka m

1. (dialectal) genitive singular of smaks

smaka f (4th declension)

1. (usually bad) smell, stink, stench

   nepatīkama, kodīga smaka ― unpleasant, pungent smell

   pēlējuma, sēra, sviedru smaka ― mold, sulphur, sweat smell

   salda, skāba smaka ― sweet, sour smell

   nejust nekādu smaku ― to not feel any smell

   sajust dūmu samku ― to feel the smell of smoke

   izvēdināt piedeguma smaku ― to disperse the burned smell (by ventilating the room)

   pretīga gruzduma smaka tā piesātinājusi visu apkārtni, ka grūti bija elpot ― the disgusting stench of smoke had saturated the whole neighborhood, so that it was hard to breathe

Declension

Synonyms

• oža
• smarža

Related terms

• smakot

References

Norwegian Nynorsk

Alternative forms

• smake

Etymology

From German Low German smaken.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /²smɑːkɑ/

Verb

smaka (present tense smakar or smaker, past tense smaka or smakte, past participle smaka or smakt, present participle smakande, imperative smak)

1. to taste (something)

   Eg smakte på kaka. ― I tasted the cake.

2. to taste (of something)

   Kaka smakte godt. ― The cake tasted nice.

Derived terms

• smakebete

Related terms

• smak (noun)

References

• “smaka” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Polish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsma.ka/

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aka
• Syllabification: sma‧ka

Noun

smaka m inan

1. (nonstandard, colloquial) accusative singular of smak
2. (nonstandard, colloquial) genitive singular of smak

Swedish

Pronunciation

• audio

  (file)

Verb

smaka (present smakar, preterite smakade, supine smakat, imperative smaka)

1. to taste

   Hon hade aldrig smakat glass förut. ― She had never tasted ice cream before.

   Det smakar gott. ― It tastes good.

Conjugation

Further reading

• smaka in Svensk ordbok.

Anagrams

• makas, maska