Inklingo

How to Say "to taste" in Spanish

English → Spanish

probar

verbA2general
Use 'probar' when you are actively sampling or tasting food or drink to check its flavor or quality.

Examples

Quiero probar el vino antes de comprarlo.

I want to taste the wine before buying it.

gustar

/goos-TAR//ɡusˈtaɾ/

verbB1general
Use 'gustar' when describing how food or drink appeals to someone's palate, similar to 'to be pleasing to'.
A close-up of a person sampling a small amount of brightly colored jam from a tiny spoon, focusing on the sensory act of tasting.

Examples

Este pastel me gusta mucho.

I really like the taste of this cake.

El chef quería gustar el plato a los comensales.

The chef wanted the dish to appeal to the diners.

No pude gustar el vino antes de comprarlo.

I couldn't taste the wine before buying it.

Direct Use

In this meaning, 'gustar' often works like a normal verb where the person doing the action (tasting/sampling) is the subject, though it can still be used in the inverted structure when meaning 'to appeal to'.

saber

/sa-ber//saˈβeɾ/

verbB1general
Use 'saber a' when describing the specific flavor of something, indicating what ingredient or taste it resembles.
A steaming bowl of soup on a table. Stylized steam rises from the soup, containing small, distinct garlic cloves, illustrating the flavor.

Examples

La sopa sabe a pollo.

The soup tastes like chicken.

Esta sopa sabe a ajo.

This soup tastes like garlic.

El café sabe amargo.

The coffee tastes bitter.

¡Qué bien sabe esta paella!

This paella tastes so good!

The Taste Formula

To describe what something tastes like, use the formula: [The food] + 'saber' + 'a' + [the flavor]. For example: 'El pollo sabe a limón' (The chicken tastes like lemon).

Forgetting 'a'

Mistake: “It's easy to forget the little word 'a' after 'saber'. For example: *La fruta sabe fresa.*”

Correction: Remember to always include 'a' when naming the flavor: 'La fruta sabe a fresa.'

Probar vs. Gustar

Learners often confuse 'probar' (to try/taste) with 'gustar' (to like the taste of). Remember, 'probar' is about the action of tasting, while 'gustar' is about the sensation of liking a flavor.

Related Translations

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