Inklingo

How to Say "to cook" in Spanish

English → Spanish

cocinar

/koh-see-nar//ko.siˈnaɾ/

verbA1general
Use 'cocinar' when referring to the actual process of preparing food using heat, such as boiling, frying, or baking.
A friendly cartoon chef stirring a steaming pot on a kitchen stove, illustrating the preparation of food.

Examples

Mi abuela siempre cocina la cena los domingos.

My grandmother always cooks dinner on Sundays.

¿Qué vas a cocinar hoy? Tengo mucha hambre.

What are you going to cook today? I'm very hungry.

Ella está cocinando un pastel de manzana en el horno.

She is baking an apple pie in the oven.

Regular -AR Verb

This is a simple, regular verb. You can use the standard endings for all '-ar' verbs, which makes conjugating it very predictable.

Mixing up 'Cocinar' and 'Hacer'

Mistake: “Hacer la comida (literally 'to make the food').”

Correction: While 'hacer' (to do/make) is sometimes used, 'cocinar' is much more specific and natural when talking about the act of cooking: 'Voy a cocinar la cena.'

preparar

/pre-pa-RAHR//pɾepaˈɾaɾ/

verbA1general
Use 'preparar' when the focus is on assembling or getting a meal ready, which can include cooking but also other actions like mixing or simply serving.
A person's hands mixing fresh salad ingredients in a large wooden bowl.

Examples

Mi abuela prepara el mejor café del mundo.

My grandmother makes the best coffee in the world.

Preparar vs. Cocinar

While 'cocinar' specifically means the act of heating food, 'preparar' is used more broadly for making drinks, salads, or any meal assembly.

Direct vs. General Preparation

Learners often default to 'cocinar' for any food-related action. However, remember that 'preparar' is broader and can encompass the entire process of making a meal, not just the cooking part. Use 'cocinar' specifically for the act of applying heat to food.

Related Translations

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