Spanish Kitchen Vocabulary: Kitchen Words in Spanish

Spanish Kitchen Vocabulary

Start with the most common words, then expand your knowledge with intermediate and advanced vocabulary.

Beginner (A1)

kitchen la cocina
table la mesa
plate / dish el plato
glass el vaso
cup la taza
knife el cuchillo
spoon la cuchara
fork el tenedor
pot la olla
frying pan la sartén
oven el horno
refrigerator la nevera
sink el fregadero
bottle la botella
drawer el cajón
cupboard / cabinet el armario
countertop la encimera
microwave el microondas
freezer el congelador
tap / faucet el grifo
container el recipiente
tray la bandeja
napkin la servilleta
can la lata
lid la tapa

Elementary (A2)

tableware la vajilla
cutlery los cubiertos
utensil el utensilio
strainer el colador
spatula la espátula
ladle el cucharón
coffee maker la cafetera
toaster la tostadora
dishwasher el lavavajillas
pantry la despensa
jar el frasco
cutting board la tabla de cortar
blender la batidora
kettle el hervidor
burner el quemador
saucepan la cacerola
casserole dish la cazuela
grater el rallador
peeler el pelador
scrubber el estropajo
detergent el detergente
wastebasket / bin la papelera
measuring cup el vaso medidor
bottle opener el abrebotellas
can opener el abrelatas
tongs las pinzas

Intermediate & Advanced (B1-C1)

pressure cooker la olla a presión
food processor el procesador de alimentos
hand blender la batidora de mano
extractor hood la campana extractora
rack la rejilla
mortar el mortero
rolling pin el rodillo
kitchen scale la báscula de cocina
thermometer el termómetro
apron el delantal
oven mitt el guante de horno
plastic wrap el film transparente
aluminum foil el papel de aluminio
parchment paper el papel de horno
sieve el tamiz
grinder el molinillo
skimmer la espumadera
pastry brush el pincel de cocina
timer el temporizador

Example Sentences

In the context of a market. With highlighted verbs and adjectives.

Beginner & Elementary (A1-A2)

Everyday kitchen situations using basic A1/A2 kitchen vocabulary.

Yo pongo el plato sobre la mesa. I put the plate on the table.
Yo lavo los vasos después de comer. I wash the glasses after eating.
Mi madre corta el pan con el cuchillo. My mother cuts the bread with the knife.
Nosotros guardamos los platos en el armario. We put the plates away in the cupboard.
Yo limpio el fregadero todos los días. I clean the sink every day.
La cocina es pequeña pero cómoda. The kitchen is small but comfortable.
La mesa está limpia. The table is clean.
El horno está caliente. The oven is hot.
El vaso está vacío. The glass is empty.
La nevera está llena. The refrigerator is full.

Intermediate & Advanced (B1-C1)

Everyday kitchen situations using intermediate and advanced kitchen vocabulary.

Nosotros ponemos los ingredientes en el recipiente. We put the ingredients in the container.
Utiliza el colador para escurrir la pasta. Use the strainer to drain the pasta.
Mi hermana mezcla la masa con la batidora. My sister mixes the dough with the blender.
Nosotros guardamos las sobras en recipientes herméticos. We store the leftovers in airtight containers.
El cocinero utiliza el mortero para preparar la salsa. The cook uses the mortar to prepare the sauce.
La encimera está completamente limpia. The countertop is completely clean.
La cocina es bastante espaciosa. The kitchen is quite spacious.
La vajilla es resistente y elegante. The tableware is durable and elegant.
El recipiente es apto para el microondas. The container is suitable for the microwave.
La campana extractora es muy potente. The extractor hood is very powerful.

Frequently Asked Questions

Essential tips on describing your kitchen, learning common Spanish kitchen words, understanding regional differences, and using common Spanish kitchen expressions.

These basic expressions help you describe your kitchen, talk about kitchen objects, and explain what you have:

Mi cocina... (My kitchen...) — Used to introduce or describe your kitchen. Example: Mi cocina es pequeña. (My kitchen is small.)
En la cocina... (In the kitchen...) — Used to talk about what happens or what is located in the kitchen. Example: En la cocina hay una mesa. (There is a table in the kitchen.)
Hay... (There is / there are...) — Used to say what is in the kitchen. Example: Hay un horno y una nevera. (There is an oven and a refrigerator.)
Tengo... (I have...) — Used to describe appliances, utensils, and other kitchen objects. Example: Tengo una cafetera. (I have a coffee maker.)
Está en... (It's in / on...) — Used to say where something is located. Example: El vaso está en el armario. (The glass is in the cupboard.)
Está sobre... (It's on...) — Used to describe the position of an object. Example: El plato está sobre la mesa. (The plate is on the table.)
Al lado de... (Next to...) — Used to describe the location of kitchen objects. Example: La nevera está al lado del horno. (The refrigerator is next to the oven.)

Spanish uses common adjectives and expressions to describe the size, appearance, condition, and layout of a kitchen:

Una cocina grande (A large kitchen) — Example: Tenemos una cocina bastante grande. (We have a fairly large kitchen.)
Una cocina pequeña (A small kitchen) — Example: Mi cocina es pequeña pero práctica. (My kitchen is small but practical.)
Una cocina limpia (A clean kitchen) — Example: La cocina está limpia. (The kitchen is clean.)
Una cocina moderna (A modern kitchen) — Example: Tenemos una cocina moderna. (We have a modern kitchen.)
Una cocina cómoda (A comfortable kitchen) — Example: Es una cocina cómoda para cocinar. (It's a comfortable kitchen for cooking.)
Una cocina luminosa (A bright kitchen) — Example: La cocina es muy luminosa. (The kitchen is very bright.)
Una cocina ordenada (A tidy kitchen) — Example: La cocina está siempre ordenada. (The kitchen is always tidy.)

These are some of the most useful Spanish kitchen words for everyday objects, utensils, appliances, and kitchen equipment:

El plato: Plate / dish — Pongo el plato sobre la mesa. (I put the plate on the table.)
El vaso: Glass — El vaso está en el armario. (The glass is in the cupboard.)
La taza: Cup — La taza está sobre la mesa. (The cup is on the table.)
El cuchillo: Knife — El cuchillo está sobre la mesa. (The knife is on the table.)
El tenedor: Fork — Necesito un tenedor. (I need a fork.)
La cuchara: Spoon — Necesito una cuchara. (I need a spoon.)
La sartén: Frying pan — La sartén está sobre la cocina. (The frying pan is on the stove.)
La olla: Pot — La olla está en la cocina. (The pot is in the kitchen.)
El horno: Oven — El horno está encendido. (The oven is on.)
La nevera: Refrigerator — La leche está en la nevera. (The milk is in the refrigerator.)

Some common kitchen words vary by country. These are the most useful differences to know:

Refrigerator: Spain — frigorífico; Mexico — refrigerador; Colombia — nevera; Argentina — heladera; Peru — refrigeradora.
Stove: Spain — cocina; Mexico — estufa; Colombia — estufa; Argentina — cocina; Chile — cocina.
Blender: Spain — batidora; Mexico — licuadora; Colombia — licuadora; Argentina — licuadora; Chile — licuadora.
Countertop: Spain — encimera; Mexico — cubierta; Argentina — mesada; Chile — cubierta; Colombia — mesón.
Sink: Spain — fregadero; Mexico — fregadero; Argentina — pileta; Chile — lavaplatos; Colombia — lavaplatos.
Potato: Spain — patata; Mexico — papa; Colombia — papa; Argentina — papa; Chile — papa.
Dishwasher: Spain — lavavajillas; Mexico — lavavajillas; Argentina — lavavajillas; Colombia — lavaplatos; Chile — lavavajillas.

These verbs are useful for talking about cooking, preparing food, cleaning, and using everyday kitchen objects:

Cocinar: To cook — Cocino la cena en la cocina. (I cook dinner in the kitchen.)
Preparar: To prepare — Preparo la comida en la cocina. (I prepare the food in the kitchen.)
Cortar: To cut — Corto las verduras con un cuchillo. (I cut the vegetables with a knife.)
Lavar: To wash — Lavo los platos después de comer. (I wash the dishes after eating.)
Limpiar: To clean — Limpio la encimera todos los días. (I clean the countertop every day.)
Calentar: To heat — Caliento la comida en el microondas. (I heat the food in the microwave.)
Guardar: To put away / store — Guardo los vasos en el armario. (I put the glasses away in the cupboard.)

Spanish Kitchen Vocabulary