Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
funky
English answer:
smelly AND cool/unusual
Added to glossary by
Laura Tosi
Feb 16, 2018 10:32
6 yrs ago
10 viewers *
English term
funky
English
Other
Cooking / Culinary
All things fermented and somewhat *funky* require some initiative. There are wild yeasts involved that co-exist with plenty of other micro-organisms, including a substantial amount of acetic acid bacteria. These are essential for developing refreshingly *funky* tonics, but there can be other, less welcome, bacteria that can develop in your batch, too.
Hello everyone! Could you please help me understand the meaning of "funky" in this context?
I see that the adjective could mean
a. Having a moldy or musty smell
which makes some sense since we're talking about something fermented. However, I perceive in the term a negative nuance that in my opinion does not work well with the expression "refreshingly funky tonics" and in general with the positive descriptions and tone you will find in cooking books when talking about something you're going to drink or eat.
I was wondering if the meaning could be instead c. Unconventional or eccentric; offbeat or odd.
Anyway, could you please share your thoughts as English mothertongues so that I can understand better this term in context?
Thank you very much in advance for your help!
Best, Laura
Hello everyone! Could you please help me understand the meaning of "funky" in this context?
I see that the adjective could mean
a. Having a moldy or musty smell
which makes some sense since we're talking about something fermented. However, I perceive in the term a negative nuance that in my opinion does not work well with the expression "refreshingly funky tonics" and in general with the positive descriptions and tone you will find in cooking books when talking about something you're going to drink or eat.
I was wondering if the meaning could be instead c. Unconventional or eccentric; offbeat or odd.
Anyway, could you please share your thoughts as English mothertongues so that I can understand better this term in context?
Thank you very much in advance for your help!
Best, Laura
Responses
+5
1 hr
Selected
smelly AND cool/unusual
I think the word does indeed refer to the smell, but it is being used somewhat imprecisely by the original author. In the first use of the word, it says that "funky" foods may "require some initiative" - i.e. they need some getting used to / you might have to convince yourself to try them. This seems to refer more to the smell (usually very sour).
When saying "refreshingly funky tonics," this could be a play on words that refers to both the smell and the "cool/unusual" aspect. However, I think "funky" is a bit of a poor word choice here. From personal experience, I can tell you that fermented foods are very sour / astringent / pungent, not really "funky" like a stinky cheese. Maybe some of those words might be good synonyms to consider when searching for a translation of funky.
When saying "refreshingly funky tonics," this could be a play on words that refers to both the smell and the "cool/unusual" aspect. However, I think "funky" is a bit of a poor word choice here. From personal experience, I can tell you that fermented foods are very sour / astringent / pungent, not really "funky" like a stinky cheese. Maybe some of those words might be good synonyms to consider when searching for a translation of funky.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
philgoddard
2 hrs
|
agree |
Tony M
: Yes, i've seen 'funky' used a lot in this way, to mean a smell that isn't necessarily per se very pleasant, but that certain people might like all the same; in this sense, it doesn't have to be negative; in AE it's increasingly positive!
3 hrs
|
agree |
Sofia Gutkin
: I think it's more unusual in this sense, rather than cool.
13 hrs
|
agree |
Sanghyo Lee
13 hrs
|
agree |
Charles Davis
: In "somewhat funky" it means smelly and in "refreshingly funky" I think "pungent" is probably the idea,
21 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you very much Kristal, and a big thank you also to everyone else who answered, provided useful insight or commented. This was indeed an interesting discussion and the comments of all of you were much appreciated!"
3 mins
bizzarri/ estrosi/ insoliti/ originali
confermo
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Note added at 4 min (2018-02-16 10:36:53 GMT)
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pietanze piu' originali che hanno bisogno di estro/ iniziativa
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Note added at 18 min (2018-02-16 10:50:30 GMT)
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/www.google.ro/search?rlz=1C1GCEA_enRO768RO768&q=funky food ...
The definition of funky is something that smells bad or it is something artistic, modern, unconventional or cool. Old smelly socks are an example of something that would be described as funky. The cool, hip apartment of a young artist is an example of something that would be described as funky.
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Note added at 4 min (2018-02-16 10:36:53 GMT)
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pietanze piu' originali che hanno bisogno di estro/ iniziativa
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Note added at 18 min (2018-02-16 10:50:30 GMT)
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/www.google.ro/search?rlz=1C1GCEA_enRO768RO768&q=funky food ...
The definition of funky is something that smells bad or it is something artistic, modern, unconventional or cool. Old smelly socks are an example of something that would be described as funky. The cool, hip apartment of a young artist is an example of something that would be described as funky.
+1
46 mins
unusual, original
it can mean smelly as well but here I think it has the meaning of being a bit unusual and not run-of-the-mill. Something different from the norm. And being a handmade fermentation means that no two batches will ever be exactly the same
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Note added at 50 mins (2018-02-16 11:22:28 GMT)
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https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/funky
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Note added at 50 mins (2018-02-16 11:22:28 GMT)
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https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/funky
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Tina Vonhof (X)
4 hrs
|
Thank you!
|
+1
1 hr
earthy
I've seen "funky" used in a culinary context especially in reference to beer, and I take it to mean a unique, herbal, earthy taste that comes from fermentation (usually with wild yeasts). I found a couple of articles that may help you get a sense of what they mean by "funky".
If you say something "tastes funky", most likely you're saying it's started to spoil; but since they say "refreshingly funky", they're obviously going in a different direction here and using it as a positive.
Funky tastes would be the kind of flavor that people either love or hate, the taste equivalent of the smell of a basement. Sorry I can't suggest anything in Italian, but if you're looking for an Italian word I would go in the direction of reading about craft beers, especially beers made with wild yeast, and you might find something there.
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Note added at 1 hr (2018-02-16 11:38:25 GMT)
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Another idea: "tangy", depending on the context: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/sours-are-quic...
If you say something "tastes funky", most likely you're saying it's started to spoil; but since they say "refreshingly funky", they're obviously going in a different direction here and using it as a positive.
Funky tastes would be the kind of flavor that people either love or hate, the taste equivalent of the smell of a basement. Sorry I can't suggest anything in Italian, but if you're looking for an Italian word I would go in the direction of reading about craft beers, especially beers made with wild yeast, and you might find something there.
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Note added at 1 hr (2018-02-16 11:38:25 GMT)
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Another idea: "tangy", depending on the context: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/sours-are-quic...
Example sentence:
Many of these beers are tart, pungent, profoundly bracing and deliciously refreshing, provided the brewing has been focused and precise. They can also be funky, which can be a welcome accent or completely over the top.
Reference:
http://www.decodingdelicious.com/beer-science-sour-funky-beers/
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/24/dining/review-sour-beers.html
Discussion
The advantages of this have always escaped me. If askers believe that non-members are inherently less expert (a very dubious proposition indeed), they have only to ignore their contributions.
But in "refreshingly funky tonics" it is clear that "funky" has no negative connotations. I understand it to mean pleasantly tangy and pungent. And I think Kristal may be right that in this second case some of the other quite different connotations of "funky" (cool or unconventional) may be present.