How to Say "to concoct" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to concoct” is “cocinar” — use 'cocinar' when you are creating a story or an excuse, often implying a degree of imagination or fabrication to make it believable.
Use 'cocinar' when you are creating a story or an excuse, often implying a degree of imagination or fabrication to make it believable.
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Choose 'inventar' when you are making up a complex lie or a series of excuses, often with the implication that they are not true.
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Use 'fabricar' when you are creating a plan or a lie, suggesting a more deliberate and constructed falsehood, often with a negative connotation.
Learn more →koh-see-narko.siˈnaɾ
Examples
Tuvieron que cocinar una excusa creíble para el jefe.
They had to concoct a believable excuse for the boss.
El director cocinó los números para que parecieran mejores.
The director cooked the books (falsified the numbers) so they would look better.
Están cocinando un plan para fusionar las dos empresas.
They are arranging a plan to merge the two companies.
Figurative Use
When used in this sense, 'cocinar' implies detailed, often secretive, preparation, much like 'cooking up' a scheme in English.
een-ben-TARimbenˈtaɾ
Examples
No me mientas, dejá de inventar excusas.
Don't lie to me, stop making up excuses.
Ella inventó una historia fantástica para su sobrino.
She made up a fantastic story for her nephew.
fah-bree-KAHRfaβɾiˈkaɾ
Examples
Él fabricó una mentira increíble para salir del problema.
He made up an incredible lie to get out of the problem.
No intentes fabricar excusas ahora.
Don't try to make up excuses now.
Metaphorical Building
Think of this like 'building' a story piece by piece. Just like building a car, you are carefully constructing a lie or excuse.
Choosing Between 'Cocinar' and 'Inventar'
Learners often confuse 'cocinar' and 'inventar' because both can be used for excuses. Remember that 'cocinar' often implies making a story sound plausible, while 'inventar' suggests a more straightforward fabrication of untruths.
Related Translations
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