Meaning
To cook the evening meal.
Cultural Background
Dinner is eaten very late, often after 9 PM. Preparing it is a late-evening activity. Dinner (cena) is often lighter than the main meal (comida), which is eaten in the afternoon. Dinner is a major social event, often involving long conversations. The evening meal is a time for family to gather after work or school.
Regional Pronunciation
Remember that 'cena' is pronounced with an 's' sound in Latin America and a 'th' sound in Spain.
Verb Choice
Use 'hacer' for a more casual, everyday feel when talking to friends.
Meaning
To cook the evening meal.
Regional Pronunciation
Remember that 'cena' is pronounced with an 's' sound in Latin America and a 'th' sound in Spain.
Verb Choice
Use 'hacer' for a more casual, everyday feel when talking to friends.
Dinner Time
Be aware that dinner times vary wildly across the Spanish-speaking world.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct article.
Voy a preparar ___ cena.
Cena is a feminine noun.
Choose the most natural way to say you are cooking dinner.
Which is correct?
Both are very common in daily speech.
Complete the response.
A: ¿Qué haces? B: Estoy ___________.
You need the gerund 'preparando' for 'estoy'.
Match the situation to the phrase.
You are at home at 8 PM and cooking. What do you say?
This fits the context of cooking at home in the evening.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesVoy a preparar ___ cena.
Cena is a feminine noun.
Which is correct?
Both are very common in daily speech.
A: ¿Qué haces? B: Estoy ___________.
You need the gerund 'preparando' for 'estoy'.
You are at home at 8 PM and cooking. What do you say?
This fits the context of cooking at home in the evening.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsNo, it is neutral and very common.
Yes, it is very common in informal speech.
Because 'cena' is a feminine noun.
Cocinar is specifically cooking; preparar is broader.
Yes, it is standard in this collocation.
Yes, it is universally understood.
No, use 'preparar el desayuno'.
Not at all, it's very natural.
Te estoy preparando la cena.
Yes, it follows standard -ar conjugation.
Use 'pedir la cena'.
Not necessarily, it just means the evening meal.
Related Phrases
Hacer la cena
synonymTo make dinner
Cocinar la cena
similarTo cook dinner
Ir a cenar
contrastTo go out for dinner
Preparar la comida
similarTo prepare the main meal
