Inklingo

How to Say "stove" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “stove” is “cocina” — use 'cocina' when referring to the cooking appliance itself, especially in a context where the distinction between the appliance and the room might be relevant or when you want to emphasize the appliance as part of the kitchen environment..

English → Spanish

cocina

/ko-SEE-nah//koˈsi.na/

nounA1general
Use 'cocina' when referring to the cooking appliance itself, especially in a context where the distinction between the appliance and the room might be relevant or when you want to emphasize the appliance as part of the kitchen environment.
A bright, simple illustration of a kitchen room interior, showing a stove, counter space, and cabinets.

Examples

La comida se está preparando en la cocina.

The food is being prepared on the stove.

Mi madre está en la cocina.

My mother is in the kitchen.

La cocina peruana es mi favorita.

Peruvian cuisine is my favorite.

Ten cuidado, la cocina está caliente.

Be careful, the stove is hot.

Always Feminine

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'.

Using 'el' instead of 'la'

Mistake: “El cocina es grande.”

Correction: La cocina es grande. Remember that nouns ending in '-a' are usually feminine in Spanish, so they use 'la'.

estufa

/es-TOO-fah//esˈtufa/

nounA1general
Use 'estufa' when you specifically want to refer to the cooking appliance, making it clear you are talking about the machine and not the room.
A modern kitchen stove with a black cooktop and four burners.

Examples

Apaga la estufa cuando termines de cocinar.

Turn off the stove when you finish cooking.

La sopa está en la estufa.

The soup is on the stove.

Mi abuela tiene una estufa de gas muy antigua.

My grandmother has a very old gas stove.

Limpia la estufa después de cocinar para que no se pegue la grasa.

Clean the stove after cooking so the grease doesn't stick.

Gender of Appliances

Since 'estufa' ends in 'a,' it is almost always feminine. Use 'la' or 'una' with it.

Stove vs. Kitchen

In many countries, 'la cocina' means both the room and the appliance, but 'la estufa' specifically refers to the device you cook on.

Stove vs. Oven

Mistake: “Pongo el pollo a hornear en la estufa.”

Correction: Pongo el pollo a hornear en el horno.

Distinguishing 'cocina' (appliance vs. room)

The most common mistake is using 'cocina' to refer *only* to the appliance, overlooking its primary meaning as the room. While context often clarifies, using 'estufa' is safer when you strictly mean the cooking appliance to avoid ambiguity.

Related Translations

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