limpia la cocina
/limpja la koθina/from spelling rules
To clean the kitchen in Spanish, you say limpia la cocina.
This phrase is used to instruct someone to remove dirt and clutter from the area where food is prepared.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase limpia la cocina is composed of the verb 'limpiar' (to clean) in its imperative form, the definite article 'la' (the) and the noun 'cocina' (kitchen).
Which one should you use?
The form limpia la cocina is used for informal commands, while limpie la cocina is the form used for formal or polite commands.
How does it change in a sentence?
limpia la cocina is an informal imperative used when giving a command to a friend, family member or someone you address as 'tú'. For the general concept 'to clean the kitchen', use the infinitive limpiar la cocina.
Did you know?
- The word cocina is not just a room, but also refers to the physical stove or cooking appliance itself in many contexts.
- In many Spanish-speaking households, instead of giving a direct command like limpia la cocina, people use the impersonal phrase hay que limpiar la cocina to say 'one must clean the kitchen'. This avoids the social friction of sounding bossy or demanding.
- The word cocina shares the same ancient roots as the English word 'cuisine', both tracing back to the Latin 'coquere', which means 'to cook'.
Examples in context
- ¡Limpia la cocina!Clean the kitchen!
- Por favor, limpia la cocina.Please clean the kitchen.
- Limpia la cocina después de comer.Clean the kitchen after eating.
- Por favor, limpia la cocina hoy.Please, clean the kitchen today.
- Limpia la cocina para la visita.Clean the kitchen for the visit.
Example conversation
At home during the weekend.
- DanielSofía, limpia la cocina, por favor.Sofía, clean the kitchen, please.
- SofíaNo puedo ahora, Daniel.I cannot right now, Daniel.
- Daniel¿Puedes hacerlo más tarde?Can you do it later?
- SofíaSí, lo haré esta tarde.Yes, I will do it this afternoon.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cocina, la, limpia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
