EUT: Schmecken (to taste) und Probieren (to taste something)

Schmecken (to taste) und Probieren (to taste something)

Schmecken

The regular verb schmecken works just like the verb to taste in English. The verb agrees with the subject:

  • The cake tastes good.
    • Subject=the cake-singular/Verb=tastes-singular
    • Der Kuchen schmeckt gut.
  • The fish and the salad taste good.
    • Subject= the fish and the salad-plural/Verb=taste-plural
    • Der Fisch und der Salat schmecken gut.

Probieren

The verb probieren also means to taste, but it means to taste or sample something, to try something out:

  • I'm tasting the cake.
    • Ich probiere den Kuchen.
  • Taste the cake Mr. Reichert!
    • Probieren Sie den Kuchen, Herr Reichert!

Dialog

Person 1: Probier mal den Kuchen! ... Schmeckt der Kuchen?
Person 2: Ja, er schmeckt sehr gut.
Person 1: Nimm noch ein Stück Kuchen!
Person 2: Danke

Practice Activity

In Germany people tend to express their opinions more than people in the United States. Don't be surprised or offended if when you ask a German if he/she liked the food you cooked, you hear a "No, I didn't" and a specific criticism of your food. Now it is your turn to practice expressing your opinion:

For each question below, choose the German equivalent for the English phrase given as a response to the question.

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