smaka

See also: smakā

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.).

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

Declension of smaka (4th 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

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

Conjugation of smaka (weak)

	Active		Passive
Infinitive	smaka		smakas
Supine	smakat		smakats
Imperative	smaka		—
Imper. plural1	smaken		—
	Present	Past	Present	Past
Indicative	smakar	smakade	smakas	smakades
Ind. plural1	smaka	smakade	smakas	smakades
Subjunctive2	smake	smakade	smakes	smakades
	Participles
Present participle	smakande
Past participle	smakad
1 Archaic. 2 Dated. See the appendix on Swedish verbs.

Further reading

• smaka in Svensk ordbok.

Anagrams

• makas, maska