Moskau versus Berlin: ein Vergleich der beiden Hauptstädte

What does “Geschmackssache” mean in German?

Comparing Moscow and Berlin, the speaker admits he likes Moscow’s sights more — then adds, “Aber es ist wohl Geschmackssache.” It’s his polite way of saying: that’s just my opinion, you might feel the other way. Germans use Geschmackssache to step back from a strong preference so no one has to argue. The next line even plays on it: some things, he says, are NOT a matter of taste.

In the clip he says: “Aber es ist wohl Geschmackssache.” — “But it’s probably a matter of taste.” It literally joins Geschmack (taste/flavour) and Sache (thing), so “a taste-thing.” You use it when two opinions are both fine and there’s no real winner. Examples: - “Welche Stadt schöner ist? Geschmackssache.” — “Which city is nicer? A matter of taste.” - “Manche mögen Tee, manche Kaffee — reine Geschmackssache.” — “Some like tea, some coffee — purely a matter of taste.” - “Das Design finde ich hässlich, aber das ist Geschmackssache.” — “I find the design ugly, but that’s a matter of taste.” Note: it’s often used to close a friendly debate, the same way English says “to each their own.”