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I've been breaking my head trying to find an opposite term for the phrase/expression "acquired taste". I vaguely know that "acquired taste" refers to something (a taste) that you start liking after you get used to (acquire).

So, what's the term or phrase that one should use to describe a taste that they were born with, or in other words, didn't "acquire", but was rather "inherited" or born with? I'd like to use this in the context of music.

For example, "House music is an acquired taste." I would like to say something such as "But, Trance music is {what should I say here?}."

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  • Maybe inherent? – TrevorD Jun 12 '16 at 11:40
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    It should be noted that the term is often used in a sarcastic sense, implying that the speaker doesn't really like the thing but manages to tolerate it. – Hot Licks Jun 12 '16 at 12:11
  • It depends on what you want to reverse, if it's just the acquired bit then the answer below is good as would inherent. If you want to reverse the whole thing then it would be an acquired dislike. – user23614 Jun 12 '16 at 14:19
  • opposite of acquire is disperse. Being born with a taste, and acquiring a taste still leads to having it. Surely opposite would mean not having it. Like not having it at birth is more opposite to acquiring it. – Piotr Kula Jun 12 '16 at 21:38
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Innate or congenital would fit (somewhat), but I don't like them much here. Intrinsic might work fairly well, but it's not really opposite "acquired". Congenital is; I just don't really like it for this use. I might go with natural, which has the dubious bonus of being a weak musical pun ("see sharp or be flat!").

That said, I'm not sure that Trance is not also an acquired taste. :-)

Edit: usage examples, as requested:

  • Innate specifically means something one is born with: "She had an innate talent for music."
  • Congenital tends to be used for things perceived as defects or flaws: "He was born with congenital blindness."
  • Intrinsic sets a quality apart from extrinsic (externally supplied), and often appears with the word value or worth, as in this example from the Cambridge Dictionary: "Each human being has intrinsic dignity and worth."
  • Natural can be opposed to artificial, and "acquired taste" has a sense of artificiality: "My affinity for sugary snacks is natural; coffee was an acquired taste."
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  • +1 for innate, but please complete your answer by adding definitions or usage examples that tie in with the question. – Phil Sweet Jun 12 '16 at 14:39
  • That's a very detailed answer. I think I'll go with innate :) Thank you very much! – dsignr Jun 12 '16 at 18:34

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