smell

A noun is a word that refers to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., femme, chat, maison).

(f) means that a noun is feminine. French nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la dame or la lune) or masculine (like l'homme or le soleil).

(F)

I love the smell of lilacs.J’adore l’odeur des lilas.

2. (ability to detect odor; used with "sense of")

a. l'odorat

(m) means that a noun is masculine. French nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la dame or la lune) or masculine (like l'homme or le soleil).

(M)

Dogs have a more developed sense of smell than humans.Les chiens ont un odorat plus développé que les humains.

An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., éternuer.).

intransitive verb

3. (to emit an odor)

a. sentir

The apartment smells like apple pie.L’appartement sent la tarte aux pommes.

4. (to emit an unpleasant odor)

a. sentir mauvais

Something smells in the basement.Quelque chose sent mauvais dans le sous-sol.

b. puer

Gross, your socks smell!Beurk, tes chaussettes puent !

5. (to detect through smell)

This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.

no direct translation

I can't smell with this cold. My nose is completely blocked.Je ne sens plus les odeurs avec ce rhume. J'ai le nez complètement bouché.

Zack hasn't been able to smell since the accident.Zack a perdu l’odorat depuis l'accident.

A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., acheter).

transitive verb

6. (to detect through smell)

a. sentir

Smell this perfume. Do you think Mom would like it for her birthday?Sens ce parfum. Tu crois qu’il plairait à maman pour son anniversaire ?

b. flairer (animal)

Our dog can smell a steak from the other side of the neighborhood.Notre chien peut flairer un steak à l'autre bout du quartier.

A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning (e.g., to pull someone's leg).

(figurative)

(to sense)

a. flairer

A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning (e.g., to pull someone's leg).

(figurative)

I smelled trouble the minute Rachel walked into the party.J'ai flairé une embrouille dès que Rachel est arrivée à la fête.

b. pressentir

Johnny smelled a trap when Mike set up the meeting.Johnny a pressenti un piège lorsque Mike a organisé le rendez-vous.

Conjugations

Participles

Present:	smelling
Past:	smelled

Indicative of "smell"

	Present	Past	Future
I	smell	smelt	will smell
you	smell	smelt	will smell
he/she	smells	smelt	will smell
we	smell	smelt	will smell
you	smell	smelt	will smell
they	smell	smelt	will smell