saborear

Saborear is a verb used in Spanish and Portuguese that means to taste with pleasure, to savor, or to enjoy flavors slowly. It denotes the act of perceiving and appreciating taste in food or drink, and it can also be used figuratively to describe enjoying experiences, moments, or life.

Etymology and usage notes: Saborear derives from the noun sabor, meaning flavor, which comes from a Latin root related to taste. In both Spanish and Portuguese, it is a regular verb of the first conjugation, forming present and other tenses with standard endings. Common usages include saborear un plato, saborear un vino, or saborear la vida, the latter illustrating a metaphorical sense.

Nuances and contrast: Saborear emphasizes deliberate tasting and lingering over flavors, in contrast to probar (to try) or degustar (to taste critically or assess quality). Degustar often implies evaluation of quality, while saborear focuses on enjoying and prolonging the sensory experience.

Examples: Me gusta saborear cada bocado de este plato. Deja que el vino se asiente y acompáñalo para saborearlo plenamente. In Portuguese: Ela saboreou o prato lentamente, apreciando cada detalhe do sabor.

Vocabulario relacionado: sinónimos en español y portugués incluyen degustar y probar, mientras que saboreado, saboreando se emplean para describir el acto ya realizado o en curso de disfrutar.