Inklingo

How to Say "cooking" in Spanish

English → Spanish

cocinando

ko-see-NAHN-dohkoθiˈnando

verbA1informal
Use this when describing the action of preparing food that is currently happening, similar to the '-ing' form in English.
A person wearing an apron stirring a large pot on a stove with steam rising.

Examples

Estoy cocinando la cena ahora mismo.

I am cooking dinner right now.

¿Qué estás cocinando? Huele muy bien.

What are you cooking? It smells very good.

Me gusta escuchar música cocinando.

I like to listen to music while cooking.

The Gerund (the '-ing' form)

In Spanish, words ending in '-ando' work like English words ending in '-ing'. Use 'cocinando' when you want to show that the cooking is happening right now.

Don't use it as a noun

Mistake: “Cocinando es mi pasión.”

Correction: Cocinar es mi pasión. (In Spanish, use the basic -ar form of the verb when you want to use the action as a noun.)

cocción

nounB1
Use this to refer to the general process or method of applying heat to food, like 'the cooking time' or 'the cooking method'.

Examples

El tiempo de cocción de la pasta es de ocho minutos.

The cooking time for the pasta is eight minutes.

cocinero

koh-see-NEH-rohko.siˈne.ɾo

adjectiveB1
Use this word when describing items or equipment that are related to or used for food preparation.
A storybook illustration showing hands actively chopping colorful vegetables (carrots, onions, peppers) on a wooden cutting board with a large knife.

Examples

Necesitamos comprar un nuevo equipo cocinero.

We need to buy new cooking equipment.

El reto cocinero de esta semana es preparar un plato regional.

This week's culinary challenge is to prepare a regional dish.

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'.

Verb vs. Noun Confusion

The most common mistake is confusing the verb 'cocinando' (cooking now) with the noun 'cocción' (the process of cooking). Remember that 'cocinando' describes an action in progress, while 'cocción' refers to the method or duration.

Related Translations

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