Cooking soup together | Learn Spanish in English

About This Lesson

Use Cooking soup together to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Esta receta parece bastante sencilla para la cena.

EH-stah reh-SEH-tah pah-REH-seh bahs-TAHN-teh sen-SEE-yah pah-rah lah SEH-nah. This recipe looks simple enough for dinner.

Yo puedo picar las verduras mientras tú hierves el agua.

Yoh PWEH-doh pee-KAHR lahs beh-DOO-rahs mee-EHN-trahs too YEH-rehs ehl AH-gwah. I can chop the vegetables while you boil water.

¿Cuánto tiempo debe cocinarse la sopa?

KWAHN-toh TYEHM-poh DEH-beh koh-see-NAHR-seh lah SOH-pah? How long should the soup cook?

Déjala cocinar hasta que las verduras estén blandas.

DEH-hah-lah koh-see-NAHR ahs-tah keh lahs beh-DOO-rahs ehs-TEHN BLAHN-dahs. Let it cook until the vegetables are soft.

¿Deberíamos probarla antes de añadir más sal?

Deh-beh-REE-ah-mohs proh-BAHR-lah AHN-tehs deh ahn-yah-DEER mahs sahl? Should we taste it before we add more salt?

Pruébala primero.

PRWEH-bah-lah pree-MEH-roh. Taste it first.

Luego podemos sazonarla con cuidado.

LWEH-goh poh-DEH-mohs sah-soh-NAHR-lah kohn kwee-DAH-doh. Then we can season it carefully.

La sopa sabe mejor ahora.

Lah SOH-pah SAH-beh meh-HOR ah-OH-rah. The soup tastes better now.

La próxima vez podemos añadir más hierbas.

Lah PROHK-see-mah behs poh-DEH-mohs ahn-yah-DEER mahs YEH-rbahs. Next time we can add more herbs.

Word by Word

Esta “Esta” means “this” and points to the recipe being discussed. It is used before a singular feminine noun, as in “Esta receta”; a new example is “Esta sopa está caliente.”

receta “receta” means “recipe,” the set of instructions for making the dish. It commonly appears with a possessive or article, as in “la receta”; a new example is “Necesito la receta.”

parece “parece” means “looks” or “seems” in “Esta receta parece bastante sencilla.” It presents an impression rather than a confirmed fact, and a common pattern is “parece + adjective.”

bastante “bastante” means “quite” or “fairly” here and strengthens “sencilla” in “bastante sencilla.” It commonly comes before an adjective; a new example is “La tarea es bastante fácil.”

sencilla “sencilla” means “simple” in “parece bastante sencilla,” describing the recipe. It agrees with the feminine noun “receta”; a new example is “La explicación es sencilla.”

para “para” means “for” in “para la cena,” showing the meal or purpose the recipe is suitable for. A common pattern is “para + noun,” as in the new example “comida para niños.”

la “la” means “the” before the feminine singular noun “cena” in “la cena.” It is used before a specific feminine singular noun; a new example is “la sopa.”

cena “cena” means “dinner” in “para la cena.” It commonly follows “la” when referring to a specific dinner; a new example is “La cena está lista.”

Yo “Yo” means “I” and explicitly identifies the person who can chop the vegetables. It can be used before a verb for emphasis or clarity, as in “Yo puedo hacerlo”; a new example is “Yo cocino hoy.”

puedo “puedo” means “I can” in “Yo puedo picar,” expressing ability or willingness to do the action. It is commonly followed by an infinitive, as in the new example “Puedo ayudarte.”

picar “picar” means “to chop” in “picar las verduras.” It is used after “puedo” in this dialogue and commonly takes the food being chopped as its object; a new example is “Voy a picar la cebolla.”

las “las” means “the” before the feminine plural noun “verduras” in “las verduras.” It is used with a specific feminine plural noun; a new example is “las cebollas.”

verduras “verduras” means “vegetables” in “picar las verduras.” It commonly refers to vegetables as a group and can follow an article such as “las”; a new example is “Comemos verduras todos los días.”

mientras “mientras” means “while” and connects the chopping action with the simultaneous action in “mientras tú hierves el agua.” It commonly introduces an action happening at the same time; a new example is “Leo mientras espero.”

tú “tú” means “you” when speaking to one person informally, here identifying who boils the water. It is the subject in “tú hierves”; a new example is “¿Tú cocinas?”

hierves “hierves” means “you boil” in “tú hierves el agua.” It is used with “tú” and commonly takes the thing being boiled as its object; a new example is “Hierves la leche.”

el “el” means “the” before the masculine singular noun “agua” in “el agua.” It marks the specific water being boiled; a new example is “el arroz.”

agua “agua” means “water” in “hervir el agua.” It commonly appears with “el” in this expression; a new example is “Bebo agua.”

Cuánto “Cuánto” means “how much” in the question “Cuánto tiempo,” which asks about duration. It commonly comes before a noun in a question; a new example is “¿Cuánto arroz necesitas?”

tiempo “tiempo” means “time” in “Cuánto tiempo,” referring to the duration of cooking. The pattern “cuánto tiempo + verb” asks how long an action takes; a new example is “¿Cuánto tiempo esperas?”

debe “debe” expresses “should” or “must” in “debe cocinarse la sopa,” asking what is required or appropriate. It commonly comes before an infinitive or infinitive construction; a new example is “La comida debe estar caliente.”

cocinarse “cocinarse” means “to be cooked” in “debe cocinarse la sopa,” with the soup presented as the thing undergoing cooking. It follows “debe” here; a new example is “La carne necesita cocinarse bien.”

sopa “sopa” means “soup” in “cocinarse la sopa.” It is the dish whose cooking time is being discussed; a new example is “La sopa está caliente.”

Déjala “Déjala” means “let it cook” in “Déjala cocinar,” referring to the soup. The form combines the command to let something happen with “la” referring to the soup; a new example is “Déjala reposar cinco minutos.”

cocinar “cocinar” means “to cook” in “Déjala cocinar.” It follows “dejar” in this construction, which allows the cooking to continue; a new example is “Voy a cocinar la sopa.”

hasta “hasta” means “until” in “hasta que las verduras estén blandas,” marking the point at which the cooking should stop. It commonly introduces a time limit with “hasta que”; a new example is “Espera hasta mañana.”

que “que” introduces the clause “que las verduras estén blandas” after “hasta.” Together, “hasta que” means “until,” and a new example is “Quédate hasta que termine.”

estén “estén” means “are” in “las verduras estén blandas,” describing the condition the vegetables should reach. It appears after “hasta que” in this dialogue; a new example is “Espera hasta que estén listas.”

blandas “blandas” means “soft” in “las verduras estén blandas,” describing the vegetables after cooking. It agrees with the feminine plural noun “verduras”; a new example is “Las patatas están blandas.”

Deberíamos “Deberíamos” means “we should” in “Deberíamos probarla,” making a suggestion about what to do next. It commonly comes before an infinitive; a new example is “Deberíamos esperar.”

probarla “probarla” means “to taste it” in “probarla antes de añadir más sal,” referring to the soup. The final “la” refers to the feminine noun “sopa”; a new example is “Quiero probarla.”

antes “antes” means “before” in “antes de añadir más sal,” placing the tasting earlier than the adding of salt. With an infinitive, it commonly appears in the pattern “antes de + infinitive”; a new example is “Lávate las manos antes de cocinar.”

de “de” forms the expression “antes de añadir,” meaning “before adding.” In this pattern it comes before an infinitive; a new example is “Piensa antes de hablar.”

añadir “añadir” means “to add” in “añadir más sal.” It commonly takes the ingredient being added as its object; a new example is “Puedes añadir agua.”

más “más” means “more” in “más sal,” indicating an additional amount of salt. It commonly comes before a noun when describing an increased quantity; a new example is “Necesitamos más tiempo.”

sal “sal” means “salt” in “añadir más sal.” It is the ingredient whose amount may be increased; a new example is “La sopa necesita sal.”

Pruébala “Pruébala” means “taste it” as a direct instruction, referring to the soup. The form places “la” after the command and uses it for the soup; a new example is “Pruébala antes de servir.”

primero “primero” means “first” in “Pruébala primero,” telling the listener to taste the soup before seasoning it. It commonly comes after the action it orders; a new example is “Léelo primero.”

Luego “Luego” means “then” in “Luego podemos sazonarla,” linking the next step to tasting the soup first. It commonly appears at the beginning of a sentence to order actions; a new example is “Luego lavamos los platos.”

podemos “podemos” means “we can” in “podemos sazonarla,” expressing what the speakers are able or ready to do next. It commonly comes before an infinitive; a new example is “Podemos empezar.”

sazonarla “sazonarla” means “to season it” in “podemos sazonarla con cuidado,” referring to the soup. The final “la” refers to “sopa”; a new example is “Voy a sazonarla.”

con “con” means “with” in “con cuidado,” describing the manner of seasoning the soup. It commonly introduces something used or a manner of acting; a new example is “Corta con cuidado.”

cuidado “cuidado” means “care” in “con cuidado,” so the seasoning should be done carefully. The reusable expression “con cuidado” describes careful action; a new example is “Abre la puerta con cuidado.”

sabe “sabe” means “tastes” in “La sopa sabe mejor,” describing the flavor of the soup. With a food subject, “sabe + adjective” describes how it tastes; a new example is “El café sabe dulce.”

mejor “mejor” means “better” in “sabe mejor ahora,” comparing the soup’s taste with how it tasted earlier. It commonly follows a verb such as “sabe”; a new example is “Hoy me siento mejor.”

ahora “ahora” means “now” in “sabe mejor ahora,” referring to the present moment after seasoning. It commonly appears at the end or beginning of a sentence; a new example is “Ahora podemos comer.”

próxima “próxima” means “next” in “La próxima vez,” referring to the following occasion. It modifies the feminine noun “vez”; a new example is “la próxima semana.”

vez “vez” means “time” or “occasion” in “La próxima vez.” The expression refers to a future occasion when the action may be repeated; a new example is “La próxima vez añadiré menos sal.”

hierbas “hierbas” means “herbs” in “añadir más hierbas,” referring to ingredients that can add flavor to the soup. It commonly follows a quantity word such as “más”; a new example is “Añadimos hierbas frescas.”

Grammar Points

antes de + infinitivo

Antes de añadir la sal, sazona con cuidado.

AHN-tehs deh ahn-yah-DEER lah sahl, sah-SOH-nah kohn kwee-DAH-doh.

Before adding the salt, season carefully.

Use antes de + infinitive to say that one action happens before another.

imperativo afirmativo + pronombre

Déjala blanda.

DEH-hah-lah BLAHN-dah.

Leave it soft.

In an affirmative command, the object pronoun attaches to the end of the verb: deja + la = déjala.

Spanish Vocabulary

agua noun

AH-gwah water

hierves el agua

blando adj

BLAHN-doh soft blandas

las verduras estén blandas

cena noun

SEH-nah dinner

para la cena

cocinar verb

koh-see-NAHR to cook

debe cocinarse

dejar verb

deh-HAHR to let; to leave déjala

Déjala cocinar.

hervir verb

ehr-BEER to boil hierves

mientras tú hierves el agua

picar verb

pee-KAHR to chop

Yo puedo picar las verduras.

receta noun

reh-SEH-tah recipe

Esta receta parece bastante sencilla.

sencillo adj

sen-SEE-yoh simple sencilla

Esta receta parece bastante sencilla.

sopa noun

SOH-pah soup

La sopa sabe mejor ahora.

tiempo noun

TYEHM-poh time

¿Cuánto tiempo debe cocinarse?

verdura noun

beh-DOO-rah vegetable verduras

las verduras

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

How long should the soup cook?

Show Answer

¿Cuánto tiempo debe cocinarse la sopa?

Taste it first.

Show Answer

Pruébala primero.

Then we can season it carefully.

Show Answer

Luego podemos sazonarla con cuidado.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to cook

Show Answer

cocinar

simple

Show Answer

sencilla

recipe

Show Answer

receta

to chop

Show Answer

picar