Smell meanings in Spanish

olor

Example:

I love the smell of fresh bread.

Me encanta el olor del pan fresco.

What is that strange smell?

¿Qué es ese olor extraño?

Usage: formal/informalContext: Describing scents or odors in general

Note: This is the most common translation for 'smell' when referring to scents or odors.

oler

Example:

This flower smells wonderful.

Esta flor huele maravillosamente.

He smells the food before eating it.

Él huele la comida antes de comerla.

Usage: formal/informalContext: Referring to the act of perceiving odors through the nose

Note: When 'smell' is used as a verb to describe the action of detecting odors.

oliscar

Example:

The dog sniffed the air to smell the food.

El perro oliscó el aire para oler la comida.

She sniffed the flowers to smell their fragrance.

Ella oliscó las flores para oler su fragancia.

Usage: formal/informalContext: Referring to sniffing or inhaling something to perceive its scent

Note: This term is less common but can be used to emphasize the action of sniffing to smell something.

scent

Scent refers to a pleasant or distinctive smell, often used to describe fragrances.

Example: I could detect the sweet scent of flowers in the garden.

Note: Scent is usually associated with a more pleasant or appealing smell compared to 'smell.'

aroma

Aroma typically refers to a pleasant, usually food-related smell that is perceived as appealing.

Example: The aroma of freshly baked bread wafted through the kitchen.

Note: Aroma is commonly used to describe a pleasant or enticing smell, while 'smell' can refer to any type of odor.

odor

Odor is a neutral term used to describe any smell, whether good or bad.

Example: There was a strong odor of chemicals coming from the laboratory.

Note: Odor is a more general term that encompasses both pleasant and unpleasant smells, whereas 'smell' can be more neutral in connotation.

fragrance

Fragrance typically refers to a sweet or pleasant smell, especially from flowers or perfumes.

Example: The fragrance of the roses filled the room with a delightful scent.

Note: Fragrance specifically connotes a pleasant or sweet smell, often associated with perfumes or flowers, whereas 'smell' is a more general term.

Follow your nose

This means to trust your instincts or intuition to lead you in the right direction.

Example: I couldn't find the bakery, but then I followed my nose and found it by smelling the fresh bread.

Note: This phrase uses 'nose' as a metaphor for following a scent or smell, rather than just the physical act of smelling.

Something smells fishy

This means that something seems suspicious or not quite right.

Example: I don't trust that deal; something smells fishy about it.

Note: This phrase uses 'smells' metaphorically to suggest that a situation seems off, rather than referring to an actual smell.

Smell a rat

This means to sense that something is wrong or that someone is being deceitful.

Example: When the new employee started asking too many questions, I started to smell a rat.

Note: This phrase uses 'smell' figuratively to imply suspicion or detecting dishonesty.

Wake up and smell the coffee

This means to become aware of the reality of a situation, especially when one has been avoiding or denying it.

Example: You need to wake up and smell the coffee - the company is not doing well financially.

Note: This phrase uses 'smell the coffee' as a metaphor for facing reality, rather than just the act of smelling.

On the nose

This means to be exactly right or accurate about something.

Example: Her guess was on the nose; she correctly predicted the final score of the game.

Note: This phrase uses 'on the nose' in a figurative sense to indicate precision, rather than a literal sense of smelling.

Smell blood

This means to sense a weakness or vulnerability in an opponent and take advantage of it.

Example: The team smelled blood after scoring the first goal and went on to win the match.

Note: This phrase uses 'smell' metaphorically to indicate detecting an opportunity for success or victory.

Smell the roses

This means to slow down, relax, and appreciate the beauty of life.

Example: You've been working so hard; take a moment to smell the roses and enjoy life.

Note: This phrase uses 'smell the roses' as a metaphor for taking time to appreciate life, rather than just the literal act of smelling flowers.

Reek

To smell extremely unpleasant or strong, often in a negative way.

Example: What's that awful reek coming from the kitchen?

Note: Reek is more intense than a regular smell, indicating a strong and usually bad odor.

Stink

To emit a strong and unpleasant odor.

Example: He forgot to take out the trash, and now the whole house stinks!

Note: Stink implies a more offensive and strong smell compared to a regular bad odor.

Whiff

A slight smell or scent, usually noticed briefly.

Example: I caught a whiff of freshly baked bread as I passed the bakery.

Note: Whiff refers to a quick or faint smell, often not lingering for long.

Funky

Having a strong, unusual, or unpleasant smell.

Example: There's something funky about this cheese; I think it's gone bad.

Note: Funky describes a distinctive and often unusual smell, typically with negative connotations.

Pungent

Having a sharply strong smell or taste.

Example: The curry had a pungent aroma that filled the room.

Note: Pungent describes a smell that is sharp, intense, and often overpowering in a distinct way.

Sniff out

To detect or discover something by using one's sense of smell.

Example: The detective managed to sniff out the source of the mysterious smell.

Note: Sniff out implies actively searching for a smell or scent to uncover something hidden or unknown.

Nose around

To snoop or investigate where one is not welcome or without permission.

Example: Stop nosing around in my belongings; it's private!

Note: Nose around involves prying into someone else's business or space, often with a negative connotation.

The smell of freshly baked bread filled the room.

El olor a pan recién horneado llenó la habitación.

The garbage had a terrible smell.

La basura tenía un olor terrible.

The dog used its sense of smell to find the hidden bone.

El perro usó su sentido del olfato para encontrar el hueso escondido.

Smell - Verb (Verb) / Verb, base form (Verb, base form)

Lemma: smell

Conjugations

Noun, plural (Noun, plural): smells, smell

Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass): smell

Verb, past tense (Verb, past tense): smelled, smelt

Verb, past participle (Verb, past participle): smelt

Verb, gerund or present participle (Verb, gerund or present participle): smelling

Verb, 3rd person singular present (Verb, 3rd person singular present): smells

Verb, base form (Verb, base form): smell

Verb, non-3rd person singular present (Verb, non-3rd person singular present): smell

Syllabification and Stress

smell Contains 1 syllables: smell

Phonetic transcription: ˈsmel

smell , ˈsmel (The red syllable is stressed)

The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.

smell: ~ 2600 (Very common).

This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.

Smell