Smell vs. Sniff

Both verbs refer to taking in air through the nose to sense odors but they are performed with difference intentions. Follow the lesson to find out more.

What is the difference between 'smell' and 'sniff'?

Both 'smell' and 'sniff' refer to the act of taking in air through your nose to recognize an odor. However, 'smell' can refer to a deliberate or involuntary act, while 'sniff' is typically deliberate. This lesson will clarify this difference.

Intentionality

'Smell' generally refers to the perception or sensation of odors or scents through the nose. It can describe the act of involuntarily detecting or recognizing odors in the surrounding environment or from a particular source. It can also denote deliberately taking in the air through the nose to enjoy or check the odor of something. 'Sniff', on the other hand, only shares the latter meaning and always refers to a deliberate and intentional act of inhaling or taking a quick, audible breath through the nose in order to detect or investigate a smell. Furthermore, 'sniffing' often involves a short, sharp inhalation of air to concentrate the airflow and enhance the sense of smell.

I could smell the aroma of freshly baked bread in the kitchen.

'Smell' can refer to unintentional perception of a scent.

He smelled the flowers to enjoy their aroma.

'Smell' can also refer to a deliberate act of inhaling to take in the aroma of something.

He sniffed the air, trying to detect the source of the strange smell.

'sniffing' often involves an attempt at investigating a smell through short, sharp inhalation.

She sniffed the milk to check if it had gone bad.

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