01
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
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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 bekommen
to get / receive
'bekommen' and 'schmecken' can both come up with food and drink, but they do not mean the same thing. 'schmecken' says whether something tastes good or what something tastes like. 'gut bekommen' says whether the body tolerates the food well. Something can taste very good but still not agree with someone, for example if it is too fatty. The confusion often happens because both words are connected with food. For taste, use 'schmecken'; for how well it is tolerated, use 'bekommen'.
schmecken
Die Suppe schmeckt dem Kunden sehr gut.
The soup tastes very good to the customer.
bekommen
Das scharfe Essen bekommt meinem Vater nicht gut.
Spicy food does not agree with my father.
In real life
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