sabor

/sah-BOAR/

flavor

A young child with wide eyes and a happy expression licking a bright red strawberry ice cream cone.

The most common meaning of sabor refers to the taste sensation, or flavor, often experienced when enjoying sweet treats.

sabor(noun)

mA1

flavor

the taste sensation

taste

the quality perceived by the tongue

Also:

savor

poetic or intense flavor

📝 In Action

El pastel de mi abuela tiene un sabor a vainilla muy fuerte.

My grandmother's cake has a very strong vanilla flavor.

¿Qué sabor de helado prefieres, chocolate o fresa?

What flavor of ice cream do you prefer, chocolate or strawberry?

Este café tiene un sabor amargo, pero me gusta.

This coffee has a bitter taste, but I like it.

Word Connections

Synonyms

gusto (taste (sense or liking))
paladar (palate)

Antonyms

insipidez (tastelessness)

Common Collocations

sabor dulce / salado / amargo – sweet / salty / bitter flavor
dar sabor a – to give flavor to

Idioms & Expressions

quedarse con mal sabor de boca – to be left with a bad feeling or impression (literally: to be left with a bad taste in the mouth)

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Noun Rule

Most Spanish nouns that end in -or, like 'sabor,' are masculine (el sabor), even if they refer to a quality.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Sabor and Gusto

Mistake: "Using 'gusto' when talking about the quality of food (e.g., *El gusto es bueno*)."

Correction: Use 'sabor' for the quality of the food (*El sabor es bueno*). Use 'gusto' for the sense of taste or personal preference (*Tengo buen gusto*).

A collection of plain gray stones, with one central stone radiating a strong, unique golden light, symbolizing its unique essence.

Beyond taste, sabor can also refer to the unique essence or distinctive quality of a person, place, or thing.

sabor(noun)

mB1

essence

unique character or quality

feel

atmosphere or style

Also:

vibe

informal atmosphere

soul

deep character

📝 In Action

Esa canción tiene mucho sabor a los años 80.

That song has a lot of the feel/style of the 80s.

El festival le dio un sabor especial a la ciudad.

The festival gave a special character/vibe to the city.

La novela carece de sabor humano.

The novel lacks human essence/soul.

Word Connections

Synonyms

carácter (character)
esencia (essence)

Common Collocations

con sabor a – with a feel of / reminiscent of
sabor local – local flavor/character

💡 Grammar Points

Using 'Sabor' Figuratively

When 'sabor' is used to describe a non-physical quality, it often means 'the feeling' or 'the spirit' of something. Think of it as the 'taste' of a mood or style.

⭐ Usage Tips

Describing Music and Culture

Use 'sabor' frequently when talking about music, dance, or food from a specific region to convey authenticity and spirit: 'música con sabor cubano' (music with Cuban soul).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: sabor

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'sabor' in its figurative sense (meaning character or essence)?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

sabroso(tasty, delicious (adjective)) - adjective

saborear(to savor, to taste slowly (verb)) - verb

insípido(tasteless, bland (adjective)) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'sabor' the same as 'gusto'?

Not exactly. 'Sabor' is the actual quality or flavor of the food itself (e.g., 'the flavor is sweet'). 'Gusto' can refer to the sense of taste (e.g., 'your sense of taste is good') or, more commonly, to personal preference and liking (e.g., 'I like it').

How do I say 'to taste' in Spanish?

If you mean 'to sample' or 'to try a tiny bit of food,' use 'probar' (e.g., 'Voy a probar la sopa'). If you mean 'to enjoy the flavor slowly and deeply,' use 'saborear' (e.g., 'Saboreo mi café').