smaker

Smaker is a term used in Scandinavian languages with two primary related senses connected to taste and flavor. As a plural noun in Swedish and Norwegian, smaker denotes flavors or tastes and is commonly used in culinary contexts, menus, and product labeling to indicate different flavor varieties. The word can also appear in marketing and culinary writing to describe a dish or drink’s flavor profile.

In Norwegian Bokmål, smaker also functions as the present tense of the verb å smake (to taste), as in Det smaker godt (That tastes good). In Swedish, the corresponding verb form is smakar (third-person singular), while the plural noun remains smaker. Danish uses a closely related form, smager, for the present tense of smage (to taste).

Beyond everyday language, smaker appears in discussions of Nordic cuisine and gastronomy, often linked to regional flavor profiles and artisanal products. It also occurs as a brand name or product line in some markets, though such uses are proper nouns rather than reflecting a general linguistic sense.