smaka
Latvian
Alternative forms
- (dialectal form) 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.).[1]
Noun
smaka m
- (dialectal form) genitive singular form of smaks
smaka f (4th declension)
- (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
| singular (vienskaitlis) | plural (daudzskaitlis) | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative (nominatīvs) | smaka | smakas |
| accusative (akuzatīvs) | smaku | smakas |
| genitive (ģenitīvs) | smakas | smaku |
| dative (datīvs) | smakai | smakām |
| instrumental (instrumentālis) | smaku | smakām |
| locative (lokatīvs) | smakā | smakās |
| vocative (vokatīvs) | smaka | smakas |
Synonyms
- oža
- smarža
Related terms
- smakot
References
- Karulis, Konstantīns (1992), “smaka”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, →ISBN
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)
- to taste (something)
- Eg smakte på kaka. ― I tasted the cake.
- 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)
Noun
smaka m inan
- (nonstandard, colloquial) accusative singular of smak
- (nonstandard, colloquial) genitive singular of smak
Swedish
Pronunciation
audio (file)
Verb
smaka (present smakar, preterite smakade, supine smakat, imperative smaka)
- to taste
- Hon hade aldrig smakat glass förut. - She had never tasted ice cream before.
- Det smakar gott. - It tastes good.