schmecken
to taste good
To have a pleasant taste. This meaning is often used with a dative object to express to whom something tastes good.
EXAMPLE
Die Suppe schmeckt mir sehr gut.
The soup tastes very good to me.
schmecken
to taste
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Meanings
schmecken nach
to taste like
To have the taste of something specific.
EXAMPLE
Der Kuchen schmeckt stark nach Zitrone.
The cake tastes strongly of lemon.
schmecken
to taste
To perceive or identify a particular flavor with the sense of taste.
EXAMPLE
Ich kann den Knoblauch in der Soße deutlich schmecken.
I can clearly taste the garlic in the sauce.
sich etwas schmecken lassen
to enjoy one's food
To enjoy one's food. Often used as an encouragement or friendly phrase directed at others.
EXAMPLE
Das Essen ist fertig, lasst es euch schmecken!
The food is ready; enjoy it!
Usage tips
Subject and object
The grammatical structure of 'schmecken' (to taste) changes depending on the meaning. When something tastes good, the food is the subject and the person is in the dative. When you actively perceive a taste, the person is the subject and the flavor is in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Der Kaffee schmeckt mir heute besonders gut.
The coffee tastes especially good to me today.
Dative construction
To say that you find something tasty, you use 'schmecken' (to taste good) with a dative object. The subject of the sentence is always the food or drink.
EXAMPLE
Schmeckt dir die Pizza?
Do you like the pizza?
Preposition 'nach'
When you want to describe the specific taste of something, you use the fixed combination 'schmecken nach' (to taste like / of) followed by the dative.
EXAMPLE
Das Wasser schmeckt komisch, fast nach Metall.
The water tastes strange, almost like metal.
Fixed expression
The phrase 'Lass es dir schmecken!' (Enjoy your food!) is a very common and friendly expression said before someone starts eating. It means 'Guten Appetit' (bon appétit) or 'Genieß dein Essen' (enjoy your food).
EXAMPLE
Hier ist deine Suppe, lass sie dir schmecken!
Here is your soup; enjoy it!
Compare with
schmecken vs kosten
to cost / taste
Both verbs can be used when checking a flavor. „Kosten“ refers to taking a small amount to try, while „schmecken“ describes perceiving or identifying the flavor. Use „kosten“ when someone tries something, and „schmecken“ when someone determines what it tastes like.
schmecken
Ich schmecke sofort, dass die Suppe zu salzig ist.
I can immediately taste that the soup is too salty.
kosten
Kann ich bitte die neue Suppe kosten?
May I taste the new soup?
In real life
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