Flavor in Different Languages
Discover 'Flavor' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Flavor is a concept that tantalizes our taste buds and evokes memories of delicious meals shared with loved ones. It's a word that holds significance not just in the culinary world, but also in the sciences, where it refers to the sensation produced by the stimulation of taste buds. The cultural importance of flavor is undeniable, as it plays a central role in many traditions and customs around the world.
For instance, the spicy flavors of Indian cuisine, the umami-rich broths of Japanese cuisine, and the tangy, fermented flavors of Korean cuisine all tell a story of their people and their history. Understanding the flavors of a culture can provide insight into its values, beliefs, and way of life.
Moreover, knowing the translation of flavor in different languages can be a fun and enriching experience for language enthusiasts and travelers alike. For example, the French say 'saveur,' the Spanish say 'sabor,' and the Germans say 'Geschmack.'
In this article, we'll explore the translations of flavor in various languages, shedding light on the cultural significance of this delectable word.
Flavor
Flavor in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | geur | ||
| The Afrikaans word "geur" is derived from the Dutch word "geur", which originally meant "smell" | |||
| Amharic | ጣዕም | ||
| In Amharic, "ጣዕም" also carries connotations of "quality," "essence," or "substance." | |||
| Hausa | dandano | ||
| In Hausa, "dandano" can also refer to a "taste" or a "sensation". | |||
| Igbo | ekpomeekpo | ||
| The word "ekpomeekpo" in Igbo also means "a taste of food, especially when it is delicious and well-prepared." | |||
| Malagasy | tsirony | ||
| The word "tsirony" can also mean "essence" or "nature" in Malagasy. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | kununkhira | ||
| The word "kununkhira" in Nyanja (Chichewa) is derived from the verb "kununkha" which means "to smell" or "to sniff". | |||
| Shona | kuravira | ||
| The word "kuravira" in Shona also means "to be tasty" or "to be pleasing to the taste". | |||
| Somali | dhadhan | ||
| The Somali word 'dhadhan' shares its etymological root with the word 'dhad' meaning 'to taste' implying that flavors are connected to the act of tasting | |||
| Sesotho | tatso | ||
| The Sesotho word "tatso" derives from the Bantu root "-tat-," meaning "to taste" or "to relish." | |||
| Swahili | ladha | ||
| "Ladha" can also refer to a tasty food or a feeling of satisfaction. | |||
| Xhosa | incasa | ||
| The word "incasa" in Xhosa is also used to describe someone who is good-natured, hospitable, and approachable. | |||
| Yoruba | adun | ||
| "Adun" also means "sweetness" and "delight" in Yoruba. | |||
| Zulu | ukunambitheka | ||
| "ukunambitheka" also means "to taste" or "to have a flavor" in Zulu. | |||
| Bambara | daamu | ||
| Ewe | vivi ƒe vivi | ||
| Kinyarwanda | uburyohe | ||
| Lingala | elɛngi | ||
| Luganda | obuwoomi | ||
| Sepedi | tatso ya | ||
| Twi (Akan) | dɛ a ɛyɛ dɛ | ||
Flavor in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | نكهة | ||
| The word "نكهة" is related to the root word "نكه" meaning "to perfume" and "نكهة" can also refer to "reputation"} | |||
| Hebrew | טעם | ||
| The word טעם also means "reason" or "basis" in Hebrew, akin to "taste" or "relish" in English. | |||
| Pashto | خوند | ||
| The word "خوند" in Pashto comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *ǵʰʷen- meaning "to strike" or "to kill", and is cognate with the English word "wound". | |||
| Arabic | نكهة | ||
| The word "نكهة" is related to the root word "نكه" meaning "to perfume" and "نكهة" can also refer to "reputation"} | |||
Flavor in Western European Languages
| Albanian | aromë | ||
| The Albanian word "aromë" ultimately derives from ancient Greek "aroma", meaning "spice". | |||
| Basque | zaporea | ||
| In proto-Basque "*zapo" meant "taste" and "*ore" meant "water", so "zaporea" literally meant "water of taste". | |||
| Catalan | sabor | ||
| The word "sabor" in Catalan is also the word for "knowledge", and it comes from the Latin word "sapere", which means "to taste". | |||
| Croatian | okus | ||
| "Okus" shares its root with "cost" and "gustatory" from Latin and Greek respectively, implying its connection to value and taste. | |||
| Danish | smag | ||
| The Danish word "smag" is also used to refer to the sense of taste or the act of tasting something. | |||
| Dutch | smaak | ||
| The word "smaak" in Dutch also refers to the sense of taste or an individual's personal preference for certain flavors. | |||
| English | flavor | ||
| The word 'flavor' originally meant 'smell' or 'odor', and is related to the words 'fragrant' and 'flower'. | |||
| French | saveur | ||
| The word "saveur" in French derives from the Latin "sapere", meaning both "to taste" and "to be wise". | |||
| Frisian | smaak | ||
| The word "smaak" is also used in Frisian to refer to a small amount of something, such as a "smaakje" (a small bite). | |||
| Galician | sabor | ||
| "Sabor" also means "knowledge," "wisdom," or "experience" in Galician. | |||
| German | geschmack | ||
| The German word 'Geschmack' shares its origin with the English word 'smack', referring to both the perception and the act of touching or striking. | |||
| Icelandic | bragð | ||
| The word "bragð" in Icelandic can also mean "taste, scent, or aroma" and is related to the Old Norse word "braga," meaning "to taste or test." | |||
| Irish | blas | ||
| The word "blas" in Irish has also been compared to the English "blast". | |||
| Italian | gusto | ||
| The word "gusto" in Italian also means "taste", "relish", and "enthusiasm". | |||
| Luxembourgish | aroma | ||
| The Luxembourgish word "Aroma" originally meant "good smell" and has a similar meaning to the English word "fragrance". | |||
| Maltese | togħma | ||
| The Maltese word "togħma" originates from the Arabic word "tawq", meaning "desire" or "craving". | |||
| Norwegian | smak | ||
| The word "smak" is also a nautical term meaning "calm sea" or "smooth sailing." | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | sabor | ||
| The word "sabor" derives from the Latin "sapere", which means "to taste" or "to have flavor". It has also been used figuratively to refer to "wisdom" or "knowledge" | |||
| Scots Gaelic | blas | ||
| The Scottish Gaelic word "blas" not only means "flavor", but also "taste", "relish", "enjoyment", and figuratively "a touch", "a hint" | |||
| Spanish | sabor | ||
| Sabor's etymology relates to the Latin word "sapere," meaning "to taste" or "to have a flavor." | |||
| Swedish | smak | ||
| The word "smak" in Swedish can also refer to "taste" or "the sense of taste". | |||
| Welsh | blas | ||
| The Welsh word "blas" has a cognate in Old English "blæd" meaning "fruit" or "growth". | |||
Flavor in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | водар | ||
| The word "водар" comes from the Proto-Slavic word *vodъ, meaning "water". | |||
| Bosnian | aroma | ||
| The word "aroma" also means "fragrances" in Bosnian. | |||
| Bulgarian | аромат | ||
| The Bulgarian word "аромат" is ultimately derived from Greek, and originally meant "spice" or "herb". | |||
| Czech | příchuť | ||
| The word "příchuť" can also mean "nuance", "hint", or "slight addition". | |||
| Estonian | maitse | ||
| "Maitse" is etymologically related to the Finnish word "maku" and the Ingrian word "mako". | |||
| Finnish | maku | ||
| The word "maku" is also used to refer to the sense of taste, or the preference for or appreciation of particular flavors. | |||
| Hungarian | aroma | ||
| In Hungarian, the word "aroma" can also mean "fragrance" or "scent." | |||
| Latvian | garša | ||
| In the context of beer, "garša" can also mean "smell" or "aroma" | |||
| Lithuanian | skonio | ||
| "Skonio" in Lithuanian has the same root as the Old Prussian word "sconis" and the Latvian word "skābe," both meaning "sour" | |||
| Macedonian | вкус | ||
| The word "вкус" in Macedonian can also refer to "taste" or "sense of taste". | |||
| Polish | smak | ||
| Polish "smak" originates from Proto-Slavic "sъmakъ" (sweetness) and is related to "smok" (dragon) and "smażyć" (to fry). | |||
| Romanian | aromă | ||
| The Romanian word "aromă" derives from the Greek "aroma", meaning "pleasant smell", and it can also refer to a particular fragrance or scent. | |||
| Russian | аромат | ||
| "аромат" means "fragrance" in Russian, while the cognate word "arôme" means the same in French. | |||
| Serbian | укус | ||
| The word "укус" can also mean "bite" or "sting" in Serbian, reflecting its dual nature as a sensory experience and a potential threat. | |||
| Slovak | príchuť | ||
| The word "príchuť" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *prikyti, meaning "to cover" or "to hide," and is related to the words "prikryť" (to cover) and "krytie" (cover). | |||
| Slovenian | aromo | ||
| It is derived from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to smell" and is related to the German word "Aroma". | |||
| Ukrainian | смак | ||
| "Смак" has another, more archaic meaning - "smell", which has also left a trace in modern Ukrainian language in the word "смачний" (delicious, tasty), which etymologically goes back to the Old Slavonic *sъ-madъ (literally - "with smell"), cf. Russian "сосмаглый" (with an unpleasant smell) or Polish "smrod" (stench). | |||
Flavor in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | গন্ধ | ||
| "গন্ধ" comes from Sanskrit "गन्ध" meaning "scent" or "fragrance". | |||
| Gujarati | સ્વાદ | ||
| The Gujarati word "સ્વાદ" can also refer to the "taste" of a food or drink or the "relish" for something. | |||
| Hindi | स्वाद | ||
| The word "स्वाद" can also refer to "taste" or "relish" in a metaphorical sense, such as the "flavor" of a book or an experience. | |||
| Kannada | ರುಚಿ | ||
| "ರುಚಿ" is also a name given to Hindu Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and beauty. | |||
| Malayalam | രസം | ||
| In Sanskrit, "രസം" has a wider connotation, encompassing emotions and the essence of art, but it has also influenced Malayalam with its meaning of "taste". | |||
| Marathi | चव | ||
| The word "चव" in Marathi can also mean "taste" or "relish". | |||
| Nepali | स्वाद | ||
| The word "स्वाद" (flavor) is also used to describe the "essence" of something or its "true meaning". | |||
| Punjabi | ਸੁਆਦ | ||
| "ਸੁਆਦ" is also used to refer to the taste of something. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | රසය | ||
| The Sinhalese word "රසය" ("flavor") is derived from the Sanskrit word "रस" ("essence"), which also refers to the six "rasas" (tastes) in Ayurveda. | |||
| Tamil | சுவை | ||
| "சுவை" means 'flavor' but can also mean 'enjoyment', 'taste' and 'beauty'" | |||
| Telugu | రుచి | ||
| The word "రుచి" is derived from the Sanskrit word "रस" (rasa), meaning "juice, taste, or essence." | |||
| Urdu | ذائقہ | ||
| "ذائقہ" (flavor) originates from the Arabic word "ذوق" (taste), which also refers to "discernment" and "judgment." | |||
Flavor in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 味道 | ||
| "味道" not only means "flavor", but also refers to "smell", "taste", "feeling", and "experience" in Chinese. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 味道 | ||
| In Cantonese, "味道" (weih dau) can also mean "interesting" or "unique". | |||
| Japanese | フレーバー | ||
| フレーバー is an English loanword in Japanese, derived from the French word "flaveur" and ultimately from the Latin word "fragrance". | |||
| Korean | 맛 | ||
| "맛" can also mean "interest" or "taste" in Korean. | |||
| Mongolian | амт | ||
| "Амт" also translates to "taste" (sense) and "smell" (sense). | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အရသာ | ||
| "အရသာ" can also refer to "enjoyment, delight" and "interesting facts or ideas." | |||
Flavor in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | rasa | ||
| The word "rasa" has multiple meanings in Indonesian, including "taste", "feeling", and "emotion". | |||
| Javanese | roso | ||
| The Javanese word "roso" can also refer to a person's mood or disposition. | |||
| Khmer | រសជាតិ | ||
| The word "រសជាតិ" in Khmer is derived from the Sanskrit word "rasasvada" and also means "taste" or "enjoyment". | |||
| Lao | ລົດຊາດ | ||
| Malay | rasa | ||
| The Malay word "rasa" can also refer to one's sense of feeling, emotion, or intuition. | |||
| Thai | รส | ||
| The word "รส" also means "sense" or "feeling" in Thai, and is derived from the Sanskrit word "rasa". | |||
| Vietnamese | hương vị | ||
| "Hương vị" is also used to refer to the "essence" or "spirit" of something. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | lasa | ||
Flavor in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | ləzzət | ||
| The word "ləzzət" is derived from the Arabic word "ladhdhah" meaning "delight" or "pleasure". | |||
| Kazakh | дәм | ||
| The word "дәм" in Kazakh can also mean "breath" or "aroma" | |||
| Kyrgyz | даам | ||
| The Kyrgyz word "даам" is cognate with the Turkish word "dam" meaning "taste, palate, flavor". | |||
| Tajik | мазза | ||
| The word "мазза" can also mean a "small ball" (especially a dumpling), "bait", or "a way of cooking food that involves baking bread wrapped in grape leaves". | |||
| Turkmen | tagam | ||
| Uzbek | lazzat | ||
| In Uzbek, "lazzat" shares its origin with the Persian word for "enjoyment" and is used both as a noun and an adjective to describe something enjoyable or pleasurable. | |||
| Uyghur | تەم | ||
Flavor in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | ʻono | ||
| 'Ono literally translates to "something that tastes good," but it can also be used to express satisfaction or approval of almost anything, similar to the English expressions "yummy" or "awesome." | |||
| Maori | hā | ||
| Hā can also refer to breath, life or spirit in a wider sense, or to an odor or perfume. | |||
| Samoan | tofo | ||
| The word "tofo" can also refer to the smell or fragrance of something. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | lasa | ||
| The Tagalog word 'lasa' also denotes a 'taste' or 'relish', and is derived from the Malay 'rasa', meaning 'perception' | |||
Flavor in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | sawurani | ||
| Guarani | sabor rehegua | ||
Flavor in International Languages
| Esperanto | gusto | ||
| "Gusto" in Esperanto can also mean "enthusiasm" or "joy". | |||
| Latin | flavor | ||
| The word "flavor" derives from the Latin "flagrare," meaning both "to smell" and "to burn." | |||
Flavor in Others Languages
| Greek | γεύση | ||
| "Γεύση" also refers to the experience, sensation, or knowledge of something, as a "taste" in art or philosophy. | |||
| Hmong | tsw | ||
| The word "tsw" has the same Proto-Hmong-Mien root as "tshu" | |||
| Kurdish | tam | ||
| "Tam" refers to both the sweetening substance, such as sugar or honey, and the emotional sense of sweetness or fondness. | |||
| Turkish | lezzet | ||
| The word "lezzet" in Turkish originally meant "pleasure" or "enjoyment", and only later came to mean "flavor". | |||
| Xhosa | incasa | ||
| The word "incasa" in Xhosa is also used to describe someone who is good-natured, hospitable, and approachable. | |||
| Yiddish | טעם | ||
| In Yiddish, "טעם" (tayem) has the additional meanings of "sense" or "reason". | |||
| Zulu | ukunambitheka | ||
| "ukunambitheka" also means "to taste" or "to have a flavor" in Zulu. | |||
| Assamese | সোৱাদ | ||
| Aymara | sawurani | ||
| Bhojpuri | स्वाद के बा | ||
| Dhivehi | ރަހަ | ||
| Dogri | स्वाद दा | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | lasa | ||
| Guarani | sabor rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | raman | ||
| Krio | flawa we gɛt flawa | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | تام | ||
| Maithili | स्वाद | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯁꯛ ꯊꯣꯀꯄꯥ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | flavor a ni | ||
| Oromo | mi’aa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ସ୍ୱାଦ | ||
| Quechua | sabor | ||
| Sanskrit | स्वादः | ||
| Tatar | тәм | ||
| Tigrinya | መኣዛ | ||
| Tsonga | nantswo wa nantswo | ||