🍳 Food & Cooking Verbs

⏱ 13 min read

In this lesson you will learn useful English verbs for cooking, preparing food, following recipes, and talking about meals. Each English word or phrase includes a simple meaning plus translations in several languages.

🟢 Basic Cooking Verbs

👨‍🍳 To cook
to prepare food with heat
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Cocinar
🇫🇷 French: Cuisiner
🇩🇪 German: Kochen
🇮🇹 Italian: Cucinare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cozinhar
🔥 To bake
to cook food in an oven
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Hornear
🇫🇷 French: Cuire au four
🇩🇪 German: Backen
🇮🇹 Italian: Cuocere al forno
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Assar
🍲 To boil
to cook food in very hot water
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Hervir
🇫🇷 French: Faire bouillir
🇩🇪 German: Kochen / Sieden
🇮🇹 Italian: Bollire
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ferver
🍳 To fry
to cook food in hot oil
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Freír
🇫🇷 French: Frire
🇩🇪 German: Braten / Frittieren
🇮🇹 Italian: Friggere
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Fritar
🥩 To grill / roast
to cook food over heat or in an oven
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Asar
🇫🇷 French: Griller / Rôtir
🇩🇪 German: Grillen / Braten
🇮🇹 Italian: Grigliare / Arrostire
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Grelhar / Assar
🥗 To prepare
to get food ready to cook or eat
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Preparar
🇫🇷 French: Préparer
🇩🇪 German: Zubereiten
🇮🇹 Italian: Preparare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Preparar

🟡 Food Preparation Verbs

🔪 To cut
to divide food with a knife
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Cortar
🇫🇷 French: Couper
🇩🇪 German: Schneiden
🇮🇹 Italian: Tagliare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Cortar
🔪 To chop
to cut food into small pieces
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Picar
🇫🇷 French: Hacher
🇩🇪 German: Hacken
🇮🇹 Italian: Tritare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Picar
🥕 To peel
to remove the outer skin of food
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Pelar
🇫🇷 French: Éplucher
🇩🇪 German: Schälen
🇮🇹 Italian: Sbucciare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Descascar
🥄 To mix
to combine ingredients together
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Mezclar
🇫🇷 French: Mélanger
🇩🇪 German: Mischen
🇮🇹 Italian: Mescolare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Misturar
🥣 To stir
to move a spoon around in a dish
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Revolver
🇫🇷 French: Remuer
🇩🇪 German: Umrühren
🇮🇹 Italian: Mescolare / Girare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Mexer
🧂 To add
to put an ingredient into a dish
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Agregar / Añadir
🇫🇷 French: Ajouter
🇩🇪 German: Hinzufügen
🇮🇹 Italian: Aggiungere
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Adicionar / Acrescentar
🧈 To melt
to make a solid become liquid with heat
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Derretir
🇫🇷 French: Faire fondre
🇩🇪 German: Schmelzen
🇮🇹 Italian: Sciogliere
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Derreter
🥘 To heat
to make food warmer
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Calentar
🇫🇷 French: Chauffer
🇩🇪 German: Erhitzen
🇮🇹 Italian: Riscaldare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Aquecer
🧊 To cool
to make food less hot
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Enfriar
🇫🇷 French: Refroidir
🇩🇪 German: Abkühlen
🇮🇹 Italian: Raffreddare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Esfriar
🍽️ To serve
to put food on plates for people to eat
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Servir
🇫🇷 French: Servir
🇩🇪 German: Servieren
🇮🇹 Italian: Servire
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Servir

🔵 Eating & Meal Verbs

🍽️ To eat
to put food in your mouth and swallow it
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Comer
🇫🇷 French: Manger
🇩🇪 German: Essen
🇮🇹 Italian: Mangiare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Comer
🥤 To drink
to take a liquid into your mouth
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Beber
🇫🇷 French: Boire
🇩🇪 German: Trinken
🇮🇹 Italian: Bere
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Beber
😋 To try / taste
to eat or drink a little to check the flavor
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Probar
🇫🇷 French: Goûter
🇩🇪 German: Probieren
🇮🇹 Italian: Assaggiare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Provar / Experimentar
🍴 To order / ask for
to request food in a restaurant
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Pedir
🇫🇷 French: Commander
🇩🇪 German: Bestellen
🇮🇹 Italian: Ordinare
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pedir
🍰 To share
to give part of the food to someone else
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Compartir
🇫🇷 French: Partager
🇩🇪 German: Teilen
🇮🇹 Italian: Condividere
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Compartilhar
👍 To enjoy
to like the food or the meal
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Disfrutar
🇫🇷 French: Apprécier / Profiter
🇩🇪 German: Genießen
🇮🇹 Italian: Godersi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Desfrutar / Aproveitar

📖 Useful Recipe Actions

🔪 Cut the vegetables into small pieces.
a recipe step for chopping vegetables
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Corta las verduras en trozos pequeños.
🇫🇷 French: Coupez les légumes en petits morceaux.
🇩🇪 German: Schneiden Sie das Gemüse in kleine Stücke.
🇮🇹 Italian: Taglia le verdure a pezzetti.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Corte os legumes em pedaços pequenos.
🥕 Peel the potatoes before cooking them.
remove the skin first
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Pela las papas antes de cocinarlas.
🇫🇷 French: Épluchez les pommes de terre avant de les cuire.
🇩🇪 German: Schälen Sie die Kartoffeln, bevor Sie sie kochen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Sbuccia le patate prima di cuocerle.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Descasque as batatas antes de cozinhá-las.
🥄 Mix all the ingredients well.
combine everything thoroughly
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Mezcla bien todos los ingredientes.
🇫🇷 French: Mélangez bien tous les ingrédients.
🇩🇪 German: Mischen Sie alle Zutaten gut.
🇮🇹 Italian: Mescola bene tutti gli ingredienti.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Misture bem todos os ingredientes.
🧂 Add salt and pepper to taste.
season the food as you like
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Agrega sal y pimienta al gusto.
🇫🇷 French: Ajoutez du sel et du poivre selon votre goût.
🇩🇪 German: Fügen Sie Salz und Pfeffer nach Geschmack hinzu.
🇮🇹 Italian: Aggiungi sale e pepe a piacere.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Adicione sal e pimenta a gosto.
🥣 Stir the soup slowly.
move the soup gently with a spoon
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Revuelve la sopa lentamente.
🇫🇷 French: Remuez la soupe lentement.
🇩🇪 German: Rühren Sie die Suppe langsam um.
🇮🇹 Italian: Mescola la zuppa lentamente.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Mexa a sopa lentamente.
🔥 Heat the oven before cooking.
warm the oven first
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Calienta el horno antes de cocinar.
🇫🇷 French: Préchauffez le four avant de cuisiner.
🇩🇪 German: Heizen Sie den Ofen vor dem Kochen vor.
🇮🇹 Italian: Scalda il forno prima di cucinare.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Aqueça o forno antes de cozinhar.

🧠 Useful Language Tip

Cooking instructions often use the imperative (command) form such as cut, mix, add, and stir. You will often see these forms in recipes and hear them when someone is explaining how to prepare a dish.
Add is the most common verb for putting ingredients into a dish. You may also hear “put in” in casual speech.
Try / taste is commonly used when sampling food: I want to try the soup.

💬 Common Food & Cooking Phrases

🍳 I like to cook on weekends.
cooking on Saturday or Sunday is enjoyable
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Me gusta cocinar los fines de semana.
🇫🇷 French: J'aime cuisiner le week-end.
🇩🇪 German: Ich koche gern am Wochenende.
🇮🇹 Italian: Mi piace cucinare nel fine settimana.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gosto de cozinhar nos fins de semana.
🔪 I need to cut the vegetables first.
chopping comes before the next step
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Necesito cortar las verduras primero.
🇫🇷 French: Je dois d'abord couper les légumes.
🇩🇪 German: Ich muss zuerst das Gemüse schneiden.
🇮🇹 Italian: Devo prima tagliare le verdure.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Preciso cortar os legumes primeiro.
🍞 I am going to bake fresh bread today.
I plan to make bread in the oven
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Voy a hornear pan fresco hoy.
🇫🇷 French: Je vais cuire du pain frais aujourd'hui.
🇩🇪 German: Ich werde heute frisches Brot backen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Oggi farò del pane fresco.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Vou assar pão fresco hoje.
😋 I want to try the soup.
I want to taste a little of the soup
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Quiero probar la sopa.
🇫🇷 French: Je veux goûter la soupe.
🇩🇪 German: Ich möchte die Suppe probieren.
🇮🇹 Italian: Voglio assaggiare la zuppa.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Quero provar a sopa.

💬 Everyday Conversations

Preparing dinner
offering to help cut vegetables
A: What are you preparing?
B: I'm preparing vegetable soup.
A: Shall I help you cut the vegetables?
B: Yes, thank you.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: ¿Qué estás preparando?
🇪🇸 B: Estoy preparando una sopa de verduras.
🇪🇸 A: ¿Te ayudo a cortar las verduras?
🇪🇸 B: Sí, gracias.

🇫🇷 A: Qu'est-ce que vous préparez ?
🇫🇷 B: Je prépare une soupe de légumes.
🇫🇷 A: Voulez-vous que je vous aide à couper les légumes ?
🇫🇷 B: Oui, merci.

🇩🇪 A: Was bereiten Sie zu?
🇩🇪 B: Ich bereite eine Gemüsesuppe zu.
🇩🇪 A: Soll ich Ihnen helfen, das Gemüse zu schneiden?
🇩🇪 B: Ja, danke.

🇮🇹 A: Cosa stai preparando?
🇮🇹 B: Sto preparando una zuppa di verdure.
🇮🇹 A: Ti aiuto a tagliare le verdure?
🇮🇹 B: Sì, grazie.

🇵🇹 A: O que você está preparando?
🇵🇹 B: Estou preparando uma sopa de legumes.
🇵🇹 A: Posso ajudar a cortar os legumes?
🇵🇹 B: Sim, obrigado.
Trying the food
tasting a sauce and checking the seasoning
A: Try the sauce.
B: It's very good.
A: Does it need more salt?
B: No, it's perfect.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: Prueba la salsa.
🇪🇸 B: Está muy buena.
🇪🇸 A: ¿Necesita más sal?
🇪🇸 B: No, está perfecta.

🇫🇷 A: Goûtez la sauce.
🇫🇷 B: Elle est très bonne.
🇫🇷 A: A-t-elle besoin de plus de sel ?
🇫🇷 B: Non, elle est parfaite.

🇩🇪 A: Probieren Sie die Sauce.
🇩🇪 B: Sie ist sehr gut.
🇩🇪 A: Braucht sie mehr Salz?
🇩🇪 B: Nein, sie ist perfekt.

🇮🇹 A: Assaggia la salsa.
🇮🇹 B: È molto buona.
🇮🇹 A: Serve più sale?
🇮🇹 B: No, è perfetta.

🇵🇹 A: Prove o molho.
🇵🇹 B: Está muito bom.
🇵🇹 A: Precisa de mais sal?
🇵🇹 B: Não, está perfeito.

📝 Example Sentences

🥄 She mixes the ingredients with a spoon.
she combines everything using a spoon
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Ella mezcla los ingredientes con una cuchara.
🇫🇷 French: Elle mélange les ingrédients avec une cuillère.
🇩🇪 German: Sie mischt die Zutaten mit einem Löffel.
🇮🇹 Italian: Lei mescola gli ingredienti con un cucchiaio.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ela mistura os ingredientes com uma colher.
🔥 My mother bakes fresh bread on Sundays.
she makes bread in the oven each Sunday
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Mi madre hornea pan fresco los domingos.
🇫🇷 French: Ma mère cuit du pain frais le dimanche.
🇩🇪 German: Meine Mutter backt sonntags frisches Brot.
🇮🇹 Italian: Mia madre cuoce pane fresco la domenica.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Minha mãe assa pão fresco aos domingos.
🍳 I fry the chicken until it is golden.
I cook it in oil until the color is light brown
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Frío el pollo hasta que esté dorado.
🇫🇷 French: Je fais frire le poulet jusqu'à ce qu'il soit doré.
🇩🇪 German: Ich brate das Hähnchen, bis es goldbraun ist.
🇮🇹 Italian: Friggo il pollo finché non è dorato.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Eu frito o frango até ficar dourado.
🍽️ We serve dinner at seven.
the evening meal is ready at 7:00
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Servimos la cena a las siete.
🇫🇷 French: Nous servons le dîner à sept heures.
🇩🇪 German: Wir servieren das Abendessen um sieben.
🇮🇹 Italian: Serviamo la cena alle sette.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Servimos o jantar às sete.
🥗 We prepare the salad together.
we make the salad as a group
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Preparamos la ensalada juntos.
🇫🇷 French: Nous préparons la salade ensemble.
🇩🇪 German: Wir bereiten den Salat zusammen zu.
🇮🇹 Italian: Prepariamo l'insalata insieme.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Preparamos a salada juntos.
🍰 We share the dessert after dinner.
we eat the sweet course together
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Compartimos el postre después de cenar.
🇫🇷 French: Nous partageons le dessert après le dîner.
🇩🇪 German: Wir teilen den Nachtisch nach dem Abendessen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Condividiamo il dolce dopo cena.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Compartilhamos a sobremesa depois do jantar.

🏆 Final Practice

English in the Real World:

Read the situation. Choose the cooking verb that fits.
Question 1 of 8
✅ Correct: 0
❓ Questions: 0
🎯 Accuracy: 0%