ReVerb Spanish

SABER has 2 different meanings

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Did you know that the Spanish verb SABER has two different definitions?

The first meaning, you probably already know. Yes, saber means “to know.” But there is another meaning to the verb that you may not have learned yet.  Saber also means “to taste. ”

So how do you distinguish between SABER when it means “to know” and SABER when it means “to taste”?

You can usually tell from the context. If the subject is food, then it’s likely that the meaning is “to taste.” But to avoid any confusion, you use a preposition to distinguish the different meanings.

SABER DE = to know about, to know of

When you want to express the meaning “to know about, to know of,” use SABER plus the preposition DE.

¿Sabes de un buen lugar para estudiar español? Sí, yo sé de un lugar fántastico en Argentina. (Do you know of a great place to study Spanish? Yes, I know of a fantastic place in Argentina.)

There are additional nuances to the verb SABER which I’ve previously discussed here. Check out the episode entitled  CONOCER vs. SABER for more insight into the meaning and usage of saber.

SABER A = to taste of, to taste like

When saber means “to taste,” you use the preposition a. That means “to taste of, or to taste like.”

Esta galleta sabe a coco y a mí no mi gusta ese sabor. (This cookie tastes like coconut and I don’t like that flavor.)

La sopa sabe a ajo. Es un poco fuerte. (The soup tastes of garlic. It’s a little strong.)

So to sum up, the verb SABER means “to know” or “to taste.” To distinguish between the two meanings, pay attention to the context and remember that at times you’ll have to use the Spanish prepositions A or DE to be grammatically correct.

Extra tip:

The nouns SABOR (flavor) and OLOR (smell) sometimes require the use of the preposition A. Here’s what you need to know:

When you are referring to a specific smell or flavor: sabor / olor + a + noun.

But you don’t need the preposition “a”  if you follow  the noun with an adjective: sabor / olor + adjective.

sabor a chocolate (chocolate flavored) but sabor dulce (sweet taste)

sabor a cebolla (onion flavored) but sabor ácido (sour taste, acidic taste)

olor a humo (smells of smoke, smells smokey) but olor terrible (horrible smell)

olor a canela (smells like cinnamon) but olor increíble (incredible smell)

The Spanish preposition A is also paired with the verb OLER (to smell). For example: Tu pelo huele a tabaco. (Your hair smells smokey, your hair smells of cigarette smoke.)

A funny way to say that something smells awful in Spanish is to say that it “huele a tigre” (smells like a tiger).

OLER is an irregular verb that undergoes a spelling change to the letter “h” in the present tense: huelo (I smell) hueles (you smell), huele (he smells), etc.

—-              —–              —–                 —-

Be sure to follow ReVerb Spanish on Facebook and Twitter for more frequent Spanish grammar and verb tips.

Thank you for checking out ReVerb Spanish and until the next time…Happy ReVerberating!

Podcast: Download (Duration: 3:49 — 1.8MB)