taste
gb/tˈeɪst/ us/tˈeɪst/
A1
English
~ 2100
íz, megkóstol, ízlés, ízelítő, kóstoló
NOUN
A1
1
íz
A1
Usage pattern:
the taste of [something]
The soup has a rich, savory taste.
A levesnek gazdag, zamatos íze van.
I love the taste of fresh strawberries.
Imádom a friss eper ízét.
This coffee has a bitter taste that I enjoy.
The medicine left a strange taste in my mouth.
She prefers the taste of dark chocolate.
Learner examples
The cake has a sweet taste.
A tortának édes íze van.
I like the taste of apples.
Szeretem az alma ízét.
This water has no taste.
The tea has a strong taste.
The orange juice has a sour taste.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'taste' (the noun for flavor) with 'taste' (the verb meaning to try food).
Meaning
the flavor of something
Collocations
sweet taste
|bitter taste
|good taste
|strange taste
|strong taste
Synonyms
flavor (Generally interchangeable, but 'flavor' can refer more broadly to the overall sensory impression, not just the taste.)
Antonyms
blandness (Refers to a lack of strong flavor.)
Themes
food
|senses
|daily life
|food_drink
|body
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The flavor you feel in your mouth when you eat or drink something.
The particular flavor experienced when eating or drinking a substance.
VERB
A1
2
megkóstol
A2
Usage pattern:
to taste [something]
Please taste the sauce and tell me if it needs more salt.
Kérlek, kóstold meg a szószt, és mondd meg, kell-e még bele só.
I tasted the cake batter before baking it.
Megkóstoltam a süteménytésztát sütés előtt.
She tasted the wine and smiled.
He tasted the soup and added pepper.
They tasted several cheeses at the market.
Learner examples
Please taste this soup.
Kérlek, kóstold meg ezt a levest.
I want to taste the cake.
Meg akarom kóstolni a tortát.
She tastes the milk to see if it is bad.
We taste the ice cream.
He tastes the tea before serving it.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'taste' instead of 'try' for non-food experiences, which can sound odd unless used figuratively.
Meaning
to try the flavor of something
Collocations
taste the soup
|taste wine
|taste fresh bread
Synonyms
sample (Often used when testing a small amount, especially for quality.)
Antonyms
spit out (Opposite in the sense of rejecting something before tasting it fully.)
Themes
food
|senses
|daily life
|food_drink
|body
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To put food or drink in your mouth to know its flavor.
To experience or test the flavor of something by putting it in your mouth.
NOUN
A2
3
ízlés
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s taste in [something]
He has good taste in music.
Jó zenei ízlése van.
Her taste in clothes is very modern.
Nagyon modern az öltözködési ízlése.
My taste in movies is quite different from yours.
They share a similar taste in art.
That joke was in bad taste.
Learner examples
I have good taste in music.
Jó zenei ízlésem van.
Her taste in clothes is nice.
Jó az öltözködési ízlése.
He has bad taste in movies.
We have the same taste in food.
My taste in books is different from yours.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'taste' as preference with 'taste' as flavor; context usually makes it clear.
Meaning
a person's preference or style
Collocations
good taste
|bad taste
|taste in music
|taste in clothes
Synonyms
preference (More general and formal; not limited to aesthetic choices.)
Antonyms
dislike (Refers to not enjoying or having an aversion to something.)
Themes
emotions
|culture
|lifestyle
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Definition
What a person likes or enjoys, such as in music, clothes, or food.
A person's personal liking or preference for certain things, such as food, art, music, or fashion.
NOUN
A2
4
Usage pattern:
a taste of [something]
I had just a taste of the dessert because I was full.
Csak egy kicsit kóstoltam a desszertből, mert tele voltam.
The trip gave us a taste of city life.
Az utazás ízelítőt adott nekünk a városi életből.
She offered me a taste of her drink.
He got a taste of freedom after moving out.
They gave customers a free taste of the new product.
Learner examples
I had a taste of pizza.
Kóstoltam egy kis pizzát.
She gave me a taste of her cake.
Adott nekem egy kis kóstolót a tortájából.
He had a taste of my soup.
We had a taste of ice cream.
I want a taste of your juice.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes overuse this sense figuratively without natural context, especially with abstract nouns like 'success'.
Meaning
a small sample of something
Collocations
a taste of wine
|a taste of freedom
|a taste of success
Synonyms
sample (Often interchangeable but 'sample' is more general and less tied to food.)
Antonyms
whole portion (Refers to having all of something rather than just a small amount.)
Themes
food
|experience
|food_drink
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A little bit of something to see what it is like.
A small amount of something taken to test its flavor or quality, or to experience it briefly.
Grammar
Dictionary form
taste
IPA
GB/tˈeɪst/
US/tˈeɪst/
Syllables & stress
taste (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (taste)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: taste
- Plural: taste, tastes
Verb
- Base: taste
- 3rd Person Singular: tastes
- Present Participle: tasting
- Past: tasted
Word family
Expressions
acquired taste
1/əkwˈaɪɚd tˈeɪst/
fixed phrase
something liked only after getting used to it
Something you do not like at first but enjoy after trying many times.
Examples
- Black coffee is an acquired taste for many people.
- Sushi can be an acquired taste.
in bad taste
1/ˈɪn bˈæd tˈeɪst/
fixed phrase
offensive or inappropriate style or behavior
Something that is rude, offensive, or not polite.
Examples
- That joke was really in bad taste and upset many people.
- Wearing jeans to the formal wedding was considered in bad taste.
leave a bad taste in someone's mouth
1/lˈiv ə bˈæd tˈeɪst ˈɪn sˈʌmwˌʌnz mˈaʊθ/
idiom
cause lingering bad feeling about something
To make someone feel unhappy or uncomfortable after something happens.
Examples
- The unfair ending left a bad taste in my mouth.
- His rude comments left a bad taste in her mouth.
to each their own (taste)
1/tə ˈit͡ʃ ðˈɛɹ ˈoʊn tˈeɪst/
fixed phrase
everyone has their own preferences
People like different things, and that's okay.
Examples
- I don't like that style, but to each their own.
- She loves spicy food—well, to each their own.