Verb · A1 · Spanish glossary
Cocinar: to cook
cocinar
Pronunciation: koh-see-NAHR (stress the capital letters)
Cocinar means “to cook” in English.
Quick answer
- Meaning: to cook
- How to say it: koh-see-NAHR
- Present: yo cocino, tú cocinas
- Level: Beginner (A1)
What “cocinar” means and how to use it
Cocinar means “to cook.” The kitchen is la cocina, and a cook is un cocinero or una cocinera.
How to conjugate “cocinar”
| Who | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | cocino | I |
| tú | cocinas | you (informal) |
| él, ella, usted | cocina | he, she, you (formal) |
| nosotros | cocinamos | we |
| ellos, ustedes | cocinan | they, you all |
| Past (preterite) | yo cociné, él cocinó | I / he or she |
| Past participle | cocinado | used with haber |
Examples with audio
- Cocino para mi familia.I cook for my family.
- ¿Sabes cocinar?Do you know how to cook?
- Mi esposo cocina los domingos.My husband cooks on Sundays.
Usage tip
Use cocinar for the whole activity of cooking and “preparar” for making a specific dish: preparo una ensalada.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “to cook” in Spanish?
“to cook” in Spanish is “cocinar.” It is pronounced koh-see-NAHR, with the stress on the syllable in capital letters.
How do you pronounce “cocinar”?
Say koh-see-NAHR. The syllable in capital letters gets the stress. Press the speaker button at the top of this page to hear it.
What is the past tense of “cocinar”?
In the preterite, “yo” is “cociné” and “él” is “cocinó.” The past participle is “cocinado.”
Practice “cocinar” for free
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