How to Say "Cook" in Hindi - How To Say Guide

पकाना

pakānā/pə.kɑː.nɑː/

To cook in Hindi is पकाना (pakānā).

The verb पकाना means to prepare food for eating, but it can also be used to describe the process of fruit ripening.

Meaning: to prepare food for eating (verb)

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

When referring to a person who cooks, रसोइया is a common term, whereas बावर्ची is a more formal or traditional term for a professional cook.

The past tense of पकाना is पकाया, and the present continuous form is पका रहा है.

The word is pronounced as pakānā (/pə.kɑː.nɑː/). It consists of three syllables.

In Hindi, there is a distinct causative chain for this action: पकना (paknā) means to be cooked, पकाना (pakānā) means to cook and पकवाना (pakvānā) means to have someone else cook for you.
The word बावर्ची (bāvarchī) for a professional cook is borrowed from Persian, reflecting the deep influence of Mughal imperial kitchens on Indian culinary terminology.
In some contexts, पकाना is used metaphorically to describe a plan or a conspiracy that is being 'cooked up' or slowly prepared in secret.

हमें चार लोगों के लिए खाना पकाना हैं।
We have to cook food for four people.
This sentence demonstrates using पकाना to express the necessity of cooking for a specific number of people.
Wiktionary
पर मुझे कबाब पकाना नहीं आता!
But I don't know how to cook kebabs!
This sentence shows using पकाना to express an inability to cook a specific food item.
Tatoeba #443053 by minshirui, translation #431108 by FeuDRenais

Vikas and Anjali are talking in their kitchen about dinner.

विकास Vikas

अंजलि, क्या तुम आज कुछ खास पकाओगी?
Anjali, kyā tum āj kuchh khās pakāogī?
Anjali, will you cook something special today?
अंजलि Anjali

हाँ, मैं चावल पकाना चाहती हूँ।
hān, main chāval pakānā cāhtī hūn.
Yes, I want to cook rice.
विकास Vikas

ठीक है, मैं सब्जी पकाने में तुम्हारी मदद करूँगा।
ṭhīk hai, main sabzī pakāne meṃ tumhārī madad karūṅgā.
Okay, I will help you cook the vegetables.
अंजलि Anjali

शुक्रिया, विकास!
shukriyā, Vikas!
Thanks, Vikas!

Sources

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