To perceive or ascertain by the sense of taste; to consume food. In causative stems, to cause someone to taste or eat; to provide food, feed.

Etymology From the root טעם (ṭ-ʻ-m), meaning 'to taste, discern'. This Aramaic form derives directly from the root, maintaining both the literal sense of tasting and the figurative sense of perceiving or discerning. The Semitic root is attested in multiple related languages, showing basic meanings related to taste and judgment.

Reflexes  · not yet grouped by proto-form

LanguageWordMeaningSegmentationRoot
Kikongo tama to taste (food); to relish, savor tam
Kimbundu tama to taste, to savor, to try (food) tama
Kinyarwanda tamu sweet, delicious -tamu
Kirundi tamu sweet, tasty -tamu
Lingala tama to taste, to relish, enjoy food tama
Luganda tamu sweet, tasty, delicious -tamu
Shona tamiswa made sweet, sweetened -tamu
Swahili tam(u) taste; tasty, delicious tam
Umbundu tama to taste (food), savor tama