Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| cocer a fuego lento | /koθeɾ a fweɡo lento/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /koseɾ a fweɡo lento/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
| cocer a fuego manso | /koθeɾ a fweɡo manso/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /koseɾ a fweɡo manso/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
The phrase is used to describe the action of causing food to cook or undergo heating slowly. While the verb cocer means to cook or boil, adding the phrase a fuego lento specifies the low heat required for a simmer. For the process itself, you can use the noun calentamiento.
What does it mean word for word?
The component a fuego lento literally translates to at a slow fire.
Which one should you use?
Cocer a fuego lento is the standard way to express simmering. In more colloquial or traditional settings, you might encounter cocer a fuego manso.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The standard form is cocer a fuego lento. For more informal or colloquial situations, you can use cocer a fuego manso, cocinar a fueguito, cocinar a fuego bajito or cocinar a fuego suavecito.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The expression cocinar a fueguito is an informal way to say simmer specifically in Latin America.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/koθeɾ a fweɡo lento/
Did you know?
- While lento means 'slow', the word manso in the phrase a fuego manso literally refers to something 'tame' or 'gentle'.
- The word fuego originates from the Latin word focus, which actually means 'hearth' rather than 'flame'.
- In Latin America, you might hear cocinar a fueguito, using a diminutive form that implies a gentle, cozy heat rather than just a low temperature.
Examples in context
- Cuanto más tiempo dejes cocer a fuego lento la salsa de tomate, más sabrosa estará.The longer you let the tomato sauce simmer, the tastier it will be.This sentence shows how letting the tomato sauce simmer longer improves its flavor using cocer a fuego lento.Tatoeba #5765634 by albrusgher, translation #5119623 by honestlang
- Por favor, cocina la salsa a fuego lento y constante.Please simmer the sauce slowly.
- Cocina las verduras a fuego suave durante veinte minutos.Simmer the vegetables for twenty minutes.
- Me gusta cocinar la sopa a fueguito para obtener un sabor más rico.I like to simmer the soup on a little fire for a richer flavor.
- Ella me enseñó a cocinar siempre el guiso a fuego bajito.She taught me to always simmer the stew on low heat.
- Debes cocer a fuego lento la sopa.You must simmer the soup.
- Deja cocer a fuego lento el guiso por una hora.Let the stew simmer for an hour.
Example conversation
In a kitchen while preparing dinner.
- Lucía¿Cómo preparo este estofado, Daniel?How do I prepare this stew, Daniel?
- DanielTienes que cocer a fuego lento la carne.You have to simmer the meat.
- LucíaEntiendo, gracias por el consejo.I understand, thanks for the advice.
- DanielDe nada, Lucía, te quedará muy rico.You're welcome, Lucía, it will turn out delicious.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “simmer” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, cocer, fuego, lento, manso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
