Signification
Personal preference determines the choice.
Contexte culturel
In Norway, 'smaksak' is often used to avoid 'overkjøring' (overriding) someone else's opinion, which is socially frowned upon. The phrase aligns with the Nordic value of consensus-seeking. It's a way to 'agree to disagree' without losing face. In Norwegian flat-hierarchy workplaces, managers use this to show they value employee input on subjective matters. Used frequently when discussing traditional foods like 'smalahove' or 'rakfisk', which are polarizing.
The 'Jo' trick
Add 'jo' to make it sound more natural: 'Det er jo en smaksak.' This adds a sense of 'as we all know' or 'after all'.
Don't split it
Never write 'smak sak'. In Norwegian, if it's one concept, it's one word.
Signification
Personal preference determines the choice.
The 'Jo' trick
Add 'jo' to make it sound more natural: 'Det er jo en smaksak.' This adds a sense of 'as we all know' or 'after all'.
Don't split it
Never write 'smak sak'. In Norwegian, if it's one concept, it's one word.
Polite disagreement
Use this phrase when you want to disagree with a Norwegian without being confrontational.
Teste-toi
Which sentence correctly uses the phrase?
A: Det er en smaksak at 2+2=4. B: Det er en smaksak om du liker rød eller hvit vin.
Math is a fact, while wine preference is subjective.
Fill in the missing word.
Hvilken sofa vi skal kjøpe er egentlig bare en ______.
The standard compound noun is 'smaksak'.
Match the response to the statement.
Statement: 'Jeg synes denne sangen er altfor bråkete!'
Music preference is subjective.
Complete the dialogue.
Kari: 'Skal vi male huset gult?' Per: 'Jeg foretrekker hvitt, men...'
Per acknowledges that the choice is subjective.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
When to use 'Smaksak'
Food
- • Salt level
- • Spiciness
- • Toppings
Design
- • Colors
- • Furniture
- • Art
Lifestyle
- • Hobby choice
- • Music
- • Movies
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesA: Det er en smaksak at 2+2=4. B: Det er en smaksak om du liker rød eller hvit vin.
Math is a fact, while wine preference is subjective.
Hvilken sofa vi skal kjøpe er egentlig bare en ______.
The standard compound noun is 'smaksak'.
Statement: 'Jeg synes denne sangen er altfor bråkete!'
Music preference is subjective.
Kari: 'Skal vi male huset gult?' Per: 'Jeg foretrekker hvitt, men...'
Per acknowledges that the choice is subjective.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsBoth are correct. 'Smaksak' is more common, but 'smakssak' with a linking 's' is also accepted by the Language Council.
Yes, it is perfectly acceptable in formal writing to describe subjective preferences.
No, it applies to anything subjective: art, music, fashion, lifestyle, and even business strategies.
'Smaksak' is a noun phrase, while 'smak og behag' is a more fixed idiom. They are interchangeable in meaning.
No, we usually say 'Det er en smaksak' or 'Det er min smak'. 'Min smaksak' sounds unnatural.
No, it's actually quite polite. it acknowledges that the other person's opinion is valid.
You could say: 'Dette er et spørsmål om individuelle preferanser.'
Yes, if you are talking about which policy 'feels' better, but be careful as politics often involves facts too.
Technically 'smaksaker', but it is almost never used in the plural.
The most direct equivalent is 'It's a matter of taste'.
Expressions liées
smak og behag
synonymTaste and pleasure
hver sin lyst
similarTo each their own desire
et definisjonsspørsmål
builds onA question of definition
objektiv sannhet
contrastObjective truth
