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Interestingly in the Netherlands they do express things via taste words. Lekker (meaning tasty) can describe an experience, doing something well and more. Heer
by sammorrowdrums 5y ago
Interestingly in the Netherlands they do express things via taste words. Lekker (meaning tasty) can describe an experience, doing something well and more.
Heerlijk (meaning delicious) can also be used. I found a gravestone with the translation: “we thank you God for your great deliciousness”.
- mdemare 5y agoNot quite - "heerlijk" used to mean "lordly", so "heerlijk voedsel" means "food eaten by lords". This also explains the gravestone reference (de Heer == the Lord).
- sammorrowdrums 5y agoThanks for clarification! Good to know. I often find it hard to learn and retain the multiple meanings / history of words in a second language. I do know de Heer, and Herengracht etc. I just hadn’t put that together that it’s same origin.
- vidarh 5y agoThese words have shifted similarly but subtly differently in Norwegian too. Lekker = lekker, heerlijk = herlig.
- jacquesm 5y agoThat last example is wrong as translated. In that context 'heerlijkheid' has nothing to do with taste words, it simply means 'glory'.
- TomSwirly 5y agoThis is also common in other languages. Indonesians use enak (tasty) for almost any positive quality. Even in English people refer to attractive members of the opposite sex as "tasty" But "heer" in Dutch is either a (human) lord or God, so "heerlijk" means lordly or godly, and over time this became more general. Much the same word exists in German, "herrlich", but it means "beautiful" or "splendid". Same idea though.
- fennecfoxy 5y agoI've mostly referred to members of the same sex as tasty, myself.