cocinero
/koh-see-NEH-roh/
cook
A cocinero is a person who prepares food, often called a cook or chef.
📝 In Action
El cocinero de este restaurante es famoso por sus postres.
A1The chef at this restaurant is famous for his desserts.
Mi tío Juan es un cocinero aficionado, siempre hace barbacoas geniales.
A2My Uncle Juan is an amateur cook; he always makes great barbecues.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Change for Jobs
To talk about a female cook, you change the ending to '-a': 'cocinera'. This easy pattern applies to many job titles ending in '-o'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing the Person and the Place
Mistake: "Usar 'cocina' para referirse al chef. (Using 'cocina' to refer to the chef.)"
Correction: 'Cocina' means 'kitchen' or 'cuisine' (the food style). Use 'cocinero' for the person.
⭐ Usage Tips
Professional vs. Amateur
While 'chef' is often borrowed from French for professionals, 'cocinero' is perfectly fine for both professional chefs and people who simply enjoy cooking at home.
The adjective cocinero (cooking) describes things related to food preparation, such as the act of chopping ingredients.
📝 In Action
Necesitamos comprar un nuevo equipo cocinero.
B1We need to buy new cooking equipment.
El reto cocinero de esta semana es preparar un plato regional.
B2This week's culinary challenge is to prepare a regional dish.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
When used as an adjective, 'cocinero' must match the noun it describes. For example, if you talk about 'tareas' (feminine plural), you must say 'tareas cocineras'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Alternative
While correct, using 'culinario' is often more common and sounds more formal when describing abstract concepts like 'arts' or 'traditions'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cocinero
Question 1 of 2
Which of these sentences correctly uses the feminine form of the word?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'cocinero' and 'chef'?
Both words mean 'cook' or 'chef'. 'Cocinero' is the native Spanish word. 'Chef' is a French loanword often used in Spanish, usually to refer to the head cook or someone with higher professional status, but 'cocinero' is perfectly acceptable in all contexts.
How do I say 'female cook'?
Simply change the ending 'o' to 'a': 'cocinera'. The word for the kitchen, 'cocina', is also feminine.