cocina
Lemma Details
Translation: kitchen; cuisine; cooking; stove; cooker
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: From Latin coquina, derived from the verb coquere meaning 'to cook'. This shares the same Indo-European root as the English words 'cook', 'culinary', and 'cuisine'. The evolution from Latin coquina to Spanish cocina demonstrates the typical Spanish phonological change where Latin 'qu' becomes 'c' in Spanish.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
La cocina está al fondo de la casa.
The kitchen is at the back of the house.
Me encanta la cocina mexicana.
I love Mexican cuisine.
Necesito limpiar la cocina después de preparar la cena.
I need to clean the kitchen after preparing dinner.
La cocina de gas es más rápida que la eléctrica.
The gas stove is faster than the electric one.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'cocina' as the place where you 'cook-in-a' house.
- Sounds like 'cooking' - where cooking happens.
- Remember the connection to 'cuisine' which shares the same Latin root.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking cultures, the kitchen (cocina) is often considered the heart of the home and a central gathering place for families. Spanish and Latin American cuisines are diverse and regionally distinct, with the cocina representing not just a physical space but cultural heritage and tradition. Many social gatherings revolve around food preparation and sharing meals.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'cocina' is the noun meaning 'kitchen' or 'cuisine', 'cocinar' is the verb meaning 'to cook'.
This word:
La cocina está limpia.
The kitchen is clean.
Confused word:
Me gusta cocinar paella.
I like to cook paella.
Notes: These words are closely related but have different grammatical functions.
Mnemonic: 'Cocina' ends in 'a' like many feminine nouns, while 'cocinar' ends in 'r' like infinitive verbs.
Explanation: 'Cocina' refers to the kitchen or cuisine, while 'cocinero' refers to the person who cooks (chef or cook).
Notes: The relationship is similar to 'kitchen' vs. 'cook' in English.
Mnemonic: 'Cocinero' has the suffix '-ero' which often indicates a profession or person who does something.