Meaning
The activity of preparing the evening meal.
Cultural Background
Dinner is typically eaten very late, between 9:00 PM and 11:00 PM. 'Hacer la cena' is often a social activity involving tapas or a light warm dish. The main meal is 'la comida' in the afternoon. 'La cena' is usually lighter, like sweet bread with coffee or tacos, but 'hacer la cena' still implies preparation. Similar to Spain, dinner is late. 'Hacer la cena' might involve a 'picada' (meat and cheese board) or a full meal like milanesas. The concept of 'sobremesa' is vital. Even after 'hacer la cena' and eating, people stay at the table to talk for a long time.
The Silent H
Never pronounce the 'h' in 'hacer'. It starts with the 'a' sound.
Don't forget 'LA'
Saying 'hacer cena' sounds like 'Tarzan speech'. Always include 'la'.
Meaning
The activity of preparing the evening meal.
The Silent H
Never pronounce the 'h' in 'hacer'. It starts with the 'a' sound.
Don't forget 'LA'
Saying 'hacer cena' sounds like 'Tarzan speech'. Always include 'la'.
Use 'Hago'
Master the 'yo hago' form first, as you will use it most often to describe your own actions.
Timing matters
If you say 'hago la cena' at 6 PM in Spain, people will think you are very early!
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of 'hacer' in the present tense.
Yo siempre _______ la cena a las nueve.
The 'yo' form of 'hacer' is 'hago'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'Are you making dinner?'
Select the best option:
Spanish requires the definite article 'la' and 'hacer' is the most natural verb.
Match the Spanish phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
Cenar is to eat dinner; Hacer la comida is to make lunch; Hacer el desayuno is to make breakfast.
Complete the dialogue.
A: ¿Qué haces? B: ________ la cena.
B is answering about what they are doing right now.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Hacer vs. Cenar
Practice Bank
4 exercisesYo siempre _______ la cena a las nueve.
The 'yo' form of 'hacer' is 'hago'.
Select the best option:
Spanish requires the definite article 'la' and 'hacer' is the most natural verb.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Cenar is to eat dinner; Hacer la comida is to make lunch; Hacer el desayuno is to make breakfast.
A: ¿Qué haces? B: ________ la cena.
B is answering about what they are doing right now.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt is grammatically incorrect in standard Spanish. You almost always need the article 'la'.
'Hacer la cena' is the general act of preparing the meal. 'Cocinar' is the specific technical act of cooking food with heat.
Yes, it is a universal phrase, though the time of the 'cena' varies.
Use the present progressive: 'Estoy haciendo la cena'.
Yes, 'hacer el desayuno' is the correct parallel.
'La cena' refers to the daily routine. 'Una cena' refers to a specific dinner event or party.
It comes from the Latin 'facere', and many common verbs in Spanish evolved with irregularities in the first person.
You would say 'calentar la cena' (to heat up dinner).
It is neutral. It's fine for both home and polite conversation.
Yes, it is perfectly correct and slightly more formal.
Related Phrases
Preparar la cena
similarTo prepare dinner
Cenar
builds onTo eat dinner
Hacer la compra
similarTo do the grocery shopping
Poner la mesa
similarTo set the table
Recoger la cocina
contrastTo clean up the kitchen
