Jason Holden
To taste (sense the flavor of a food) - sentir vs saber

Que palabra es mejor, saber o sentir? Quiero decir "to taste" o notar un sabor o calidad de una comida.

I know that probar can mean to taste or try a food, but it does not refer to noticing a flavor. I have heard people use saber and sentir for "to taste" a particular ingredient or flavor in a food. Is either one more common or correct than the other? Is there a regional difference or do they have different meanings? The person that used saber was in Mexico and the one that used sentir was in Venezuela. Not sure if that makes a difference or if it was a difference in the particular meaning they were trying to convey. I can't remember the sentence for saber, but the sentence for sentir was, " no senti otro sabor en los frijoles en este platillo" (accent on the i for senti- no spanish keyboard). Is there another word or phrase that is more common than either?

Example sentences:

I can taste the cumin in the black beans.

This food tastes really good.

I have a cold and I can't smell or taste anything right now.


By the way, if anyone knows how to search discussions for certain words, that would be great to know. I don't want to repeat questions that have already been asked.

Thanks!


2019년 2월 25일 오전 3:09
댓글 · 3
1
It's correct Jason!!

2019년 2월 25일
1

Thanks Camille.

I think I remember some more info of how saber was used to refer "to taste." I finally found my old notes from when a tutor used "saber" this way. My notes say to use saber when the food is the subject and probar when the person is the subject. I think the tutor may have been saying to use saber for "the food tastes good/bad/spicy" and probar "i tried the food." So with this in mind I am thinking the following for the verb to taste:

sentir = when a person is noticing a flavor or ingredient in a food

- I can taste the cumin in the black beans (sentir).

I have a cold and I can't smell or taste anything right now. (sentir)

saber= when the food "tastes" a certain way (the food is the subject and not the person tasting it)

-This food tastes really good. (saber)

probar = to taste or try a food


Is this correct?






2019년 2월 25일
Sentir is the good way to say it. Saber means “to know”
2019년 2월 25일