# smack

> English word · Noun · IPA /smæk/ · frequency rank #12,327

## Definitions
1. A distinct flavor, especially if slight.
2. A slight trace of something; a smattering.
3. Heroin.
4. A form of fried potato; a scallop.

## Etymology
The noun is from Middle English smac, smak, smacke, from Old English smæc, smæċċ (“taste, smatch”), from Proto-West Germanic *smakku, from Proto-Germanic *smakkuz (“a taste”), from Proto-Indo-European *smegʰ-, *smeg- (“to taste”). The verb is from Middle English smaken.
Cognate with English dialectal smatch, Scots smak (“scent, smell, taste, flavour”), Saterland Frisian Smoak (“taste”), West Frisian smaak (“taste”), Dutch smaak (“taste”), German Schmack, Geschmack (“taste”), Danish smag (“taste”), Swedish and Norwegian smak (“taste”), Norwegian smekke . Akin to Old English smæċċan (“to taste, smack”). More at smatch.

## Easily confused with
- **suck** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smack-vs-suck)
- **soak** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smack-vs-soak)
- **sock** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smack-vs-sock)
- **small** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smack-vs-small)
- **space** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smack-vs-space)
- **stock** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smack-vs-stock)
- **smart** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smack-vs-smart)
- **stick** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smack-vs-stick)
- **stuck** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smack-vs-stuck)
- **smash** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smack-vs-smash)
- **stack** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smack-vs-stack)
- **stark** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smack-vs-stark)
- **spark** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smack-vs-spark)
- **snack** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smack-vs-snack)
- **stalk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smack-vs-stalk)
- **Stacy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smack-vs-stacy)
- **snuck** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smack-vs-snuck)
- **spank** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smack-vs-spank)
- **Spock** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smack-vs-spock)
- **smirk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smack-vs-smirk)

## Common misspellings (8)
`msack`, `samck`, `smacck`, `smackk`, `smakc`, `smcak`, `smmack`, `ssmack`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/smack