Dégustent

Dégustent is the third-person plural present indicative form of the French verb déguster, meaning to taste or to sample, especially in the sense of evaluating the quality of food and drink. It is used to describe subjects who are actively tasting items, often in contexts such as tastings, culinary reviews, or sensory analysis. The form can also appear in present subjunctive constructions, as in qu'ils dégustent, in clauses expressing necessity, doubt, or opinion.

Etymology and related forms: Déguster derives from goûter (to taste), with a prefix that emphasizes careful sampling and savoring. Related terms include dégustation (the act of tasting), dégustateur or dégustatrice (a taster), and déguster’s past participle dégusté or present participle dégustant. The root and its derivatives broadly occupy the domain of taste and evaluation.

Usage: In gastronomy and food criticism, the verb is common when describing how tasters examine flavors, textures, and aromas. Examples: Ils dégustent plusieurs vins lors d'une dégustation; les jurés dégustent les fromages pour évaluer leur caractère et leur harmonie avec les plats. The tense and mood vary with context, from ordinary statements to hypothetical or desiderative clauses.

Notes: Dégustent is a neutral, standard term in French for tasting and sampling, applicable from casual dining to professional wine and food evaluation. It should be distinguished from basic goûter, which can have broader, everyday usages.

See also: goûter; dégustation; dégustateur; gastronomie.