Me gusta cocinar
/me ɡusta koθinaɾ/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I like cooking" is expressed in Spanish as Me gusta cocinar.
This phrase is used to express that someone enjoys the activity of preparing food.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Me gusta cocinar literally translates to "To me, cooking is pleasing".
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase Me gusta cocinar, the subject is the activity of cooking (cocinar), not the person (me).
How do you pronounce it?
/me ɡusta koθinaɾ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying Yo gusto cocinar. English speakers often make this mistake by translating "I" directly, but you should use the indirect object pronoun me instead.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, expressing a love for cocinar is often viewed as a social skill rather than just a hobby. It is frequently associated with the concept of 'cariño', implying that preparing food is a way of showing affection for others.
- The word cocinar shares a common ancestor with the English word 'kitchen'. Both trace back to the Latin 'coquina', which refers to the place or act of cooking.
- Because the subject is the activity and not the person, if you enjoyed multiple activities, you would say Me gustan… followed by a plural noun or multiple infinitives. This changes the verb conjugation based on the thing being enjoyed, not the person enjoying it.
Examples in context
- Me gusta cocinar en casa.I like cooking at home.This example shows how to specify that the cooking happens at home using Me gusta cocinar.Tatoeba #10742754 by DJ_Saidez, translation #10742753 by DJ_Saidez
- Me gusta cocinar.I like cooking.This example is a simple way to state the preference using Me gusta cocinar.Tatoeba #2738890 by nancy, translation #2738418 by CK
- Me gusta cocinar para mis amigos.I like cooking for my friends.
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are talking about their hobbies.
- LucíaA mí me gusta cocinar.I like cooking.
- Javier¿De verdad? Yo no sé cocinar.Really? I don't know how to cook.
- LucíaPuedo enseñarte si quieres.I can teach you if you want.
- Javier¡Me parece una idea genial!That sounds like a great idea!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cocinar, me, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
