What is smell? Pronunciation and usage in English

smell means . Learn how to pronounce and use smell through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of smell

smellnoun/verb

/smɛl/
Definition & pronunciation of smell

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "smell" in English. It's a trickier word than it looks! Here's a breakdown:

The most common and accepted pronunciation is:

  • /smel/ (rhymes with "cell")

Let's break that down further:

  • "sm": This is pronounced like the word "sm" in "small" - a short, quick sound.
  • "ell": This is the tricky part! It's pronounced with a dark "l" sound. This means the tongue touches the roof of your mouth behind your teeth. It's not like the "l" in "light." It's a slightly muffled "l."

Here's how to practice:

  1. Say "sm" quickly.
  2. Then, add a dark "l" sound, almost like you’re slightly restricting the airflow. Think of it as a very gentle, subtly stopped "l."

Resources for Hearing it:

  • Google Translate: Type "smell" into Google Translate and click the speaker icon. (https://translate.google.com/)
  • Forvo: Forvo is an excellent website for hearing words pronounced by native speakers. https://forvo.com/word/smell/

Important Note: You'll often hear variations, especially in different accents. Some people may pronounce it closer to /smehl/ (with a slightly longer "e" sound), but /smel/ is the most prevalent and widely understood.

Do you want me to give you some example sentences using "smell" so you can practice saying it?

Usage and examples with the word smell in English

Let's break down how to use the word "smell" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word! Here's a breakdown of its different uses and how to use them correctly:

1. As a Verb (to experience a scent):

  • Basic Meaning: To detect a scent with your nose.
    • Example: "I smell coffee." (Meaning: I can detect the scent of coffee.)
    • Example: "She smelled the roses." (Meaning: She noticed the floral fragrance of roses.)
  • Using "smell" with "something": This is very common.
    • Example: "I smelled the rain coming." (I detected the scent associated with rain.)
    • Example: "He smelled smoke." (He detected the scent of smoke.)
  • Phrasal Verbs: "Smell out" is a less common idiom.
    • Example: "The police smelled out the thief." (Meaning: The police discovered where the thief was hiding, often by detecting a scent.)

2. As a Noun (the sensation of scent):

  • Basic Meaning: The sensation of smelling something.
    • Example: "I have a smell in my nose." (Referring to the feeling of smelling.)
  • Referring to a particular scent:
    • Example: "That smell is terrible!" (Referring to the unpleasant scent.)
    • Example: "The smell of freshly baked bread is wonderful." (Referring to the specific scent - the aroma of bread.)

3. As an Adjective (describing something with a noticeable scent):

  • Basic Meaning: Having a strong or characteristic scent.
    • Example: "This cheese has a strong smelly aroma." (The cheese has a noticeable, pungent smell.)
    • Example: "There was a smelly locker." (The locker had an unpleasant odor.)
    • Example: "It's a smelly job." (Referring to a job that involves unpleasant odors – e.g., working with chemicals).

4. Phrases & Idioms that use "Smell":

  • "Smell a rat": To suspect something is wrong or that someone is dishonest. Example: "I smell a rat about that deal."
  • "Smell the money": To be attracted to the potential of profiting from something. Example: "They’re smelling the money with this new investment."
  • "Smell like": To resemble a particular scent. Example: "The room smells like lavender."

Here's a table summarizing the different uses:

Part of Speech Meaning Example
Verb To detect a scent I smell chocolate.
Noun The sensation of smelling I have a smell in my nose.
Adjective Having a noticeable scent That smells like flowers.

Tips for Using "Smell" Effectively:

  • Consider the context: The meaning of "smell" changes depending on whether you're using it as a verb, noun, or adjective.
  • Use descriptive words: To make your descriptions more vivid, combine "smell" with adjectives like "sweet," "sour," "pungent," "floral," "earthy," "sharp," or "faint."
  • Think about the source: What is causing the smell? ("I smell burning toast.")

Do you want me to:

  • Give you more examples of how to use "smell" in specific situations (e.g., describing food, describing a place)?
  • Explain any of these points in more detail?
  • Help you practice using "smell" in a sentence?

Synonyms for the word smell

Idioms of the word smell

come up/out of something smelling of roses
(informal)to still have a good reputation, even though you have been involved in something that might have given people a bad opinion of you
  • Nobody ever knew the details and he came out of the deal smelling of roses.
a rose by any other name would smell as sweet
(saying)what is important is what people or things are, not what they are called
    smell a rat
    (informal)to suspect that something is wrong about a situation
      wake up and smell the coffee
      (informal)used to tell somebody to become aware of what is really happening in a situation, especially when this is something unpleasant

        Practice with vocabulary smell

        Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

        1. The kitchen began to _______ strongly of burnt toast, indicating a problem with the toaster.
        2. The distinct _______ of pine needles filled the forest air, a pleasant reminder of nature.
        3. The sophisticated air quality sensors were designed to _______ even the faintest pollutants.
        4. His new cologne had a very subtle, refreshing _______, not overpowering at all.

        Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (there may be multiple correct answers per question)

        1. Which of the following words can be used to describe the primary action of trying to detect an odor with your nose? a) inhale b) sniff c) perceive d) scent e) smell

        2. The chef noted a faint metallic _______ coming from the seafood, indicating it might not be fresh. a) aroma b) fragrance c) stench d) smell e) bouquet

        3. Which of these words primarily describes a strong, unpleasant odor? a) fragrance b) aroma c) perfume d) stench e) scent

        4. The new air freshener was designed to _______ a subtle, natural scent throughout the room. a) emit b) diffuse c) release d) spread e) permeate

        5. Choose the word(s) that best complete the sentence: "The old library always _______ of dust and ancient paper." a) whiffed b) smelled c) perceived d) reeked e) emanated

        Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

        1. We could detect a very strong chemical odor emanating from the lab. (Rewrite the sentence, using "smell" as a noun)

        2. The flowers released a delightful fragrance into the evening air. (Rewrite the sentence, using "smell" as a verb)

        3. The sensors were highly sensitive to the presence of airborne pollutants. (Rewrite the sentence, without using "smell" or related word forms, focus on detection)

        Answer:

        Exercise 1:

        1. smell
        2. smell
        3. detect
        4. scent / fragrance / aroma

        Exercise 2:

        1. b) sniff, e) smell
        2. c) stench, d) smell
        3. d) stench
        4. a) emit, b) diffuse, c) release
        5. b) smelled, d) reeked

        Exercise 3:

        1. The lab had a very strong chemical smell.
        2. The flowers smelled delightful in the evening air.
        3. The sensors could detect airborne pollutants with high sensitivity.

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