Using 'el' instead of 'la'

As a noun, 'cocina' is always feminine. This means you'll always use 'la' (the) or 'una' (a) with it. For example, 'la cocina' or 'una cocina moderna'.

Always Feminine

How do you know which meaning is intended? Context is key! If someone talks about a room in a house, it's 'kitchen'. If they talk about food from a country, it's 'cuisine'. If they're putting a pot on it, it's the 'stove'.

Kitchen, Cuisine, or Stove?

Extremely common. One of the first words you'll learn for talking about a house or food.

Mixing up 'tú' and 'él/ella'

This one word, 'cocina', can mean 'he cooks', 'she cooks', or 'you (formal) cook'. You'll know who is cooking from the other words in the sentence. For example, 'Él cocina' (He cooks) vs. 'María cocina' (María cooks).

Three Meanings in One

When you're telling a friend ('tú') to do something, 'cocina' means 'Cook!'. For example, '¡Cocina la pasta!' (Cook the pasta!).

It's also a Command!

In Spanish, you can often leave out the person (like 'él' or 'ella') if it's clear who you're talking about. So, if you're already talking about your dad, you can just say 'Cocina muy bien' and people will know you mean 'He cooks very well'.

Dropping the Person

A very common form of the essential verb 'cocinar' (to cook).

Learn the meanings of the Spanish word 'cocina' (kitchen, cuisine, stove) and see the full conjugation of the verb 'cocinar' (to cook), which includes the form 'cocina' (he/she cooks). Includes examples, usage tips, and common mistakes.

cocinar

Complete Conjugation Tables

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

preterite

imperfect

future

conditional

subjunctive

present

imperfect

imperative

affirmative

negative

Practice Conjugations