How to Say 'I Like to Cook' in French: Expressing Activity Preferences
Learn to say 'I like to cook' and 'I don't like to cook' in French, focusing on the activity, not the food. Includes pronunciation and usage tips.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
In French, when you want to talk about enjoying an activity like cooking, you use a different structure than for liking a specific thing. This lesson teaches you how to say 'I like to cook' and 'I don't like to cook' correctly, using the verb 'aimer' followed by the infinitive. You'll learn the basic pattern, pronunciation, and how to avoid common mistakes. By the end, you'll be able to express your feelings about cooking and other activities accurately.
By the end, you can…
- say 'I like to cook' in French.
- say 'I don't like to cook' in French.
- use the verb 'aimer' with an infinitive to express activity preferences.
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J'aime cuisiner.
I like to cook.
zh-em kwee-zee-nay
Standard way to say you enjoy cooking. 'Cuisiner' means 'to cook' as an activity.
Je n'aime pas cuisiner.
I don't like to cook.
zhuh nem pah kwee-zee-nay
Negative form. 'Ne...pas' surrounds the verb 'aime'.
J'adore cuisiner.
I love to cook.
zhah-dor kwee-zee-nay
Stronger than 'j'aime'. Use for enthusiastic liking.
Je déteste cuisiner.
I hate to cook.
zhuh day-test kwee-zee-nay
Strong negative. Opposite of 'adorer'.
J'aime faire la cuisine.
I like to cook (literally: to do the cooking).
zh-em fair lah kwee-zeen
Alternative expression. 'Faire la cuisine' also means 'to cook'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To express liking an activity, use 'aimer' + infinitive. For example: 'J'aime cuisiner' (I like to cook), 'J'aime lire' (I like to read). The infinitive is the verb form ending in -er, -ir, or -re. To make it negative, wrap 'ne...pas' around the verb: 'Je n'aime pas cuisiner.' Note that 'ne' becomes 'n'' before a vowel sound.
When to use it
Use this pattern when talking about activities you enjoy or dislike. For example, if someone asks 'Tu aimes cuisiner?' (Do you like to cook?), you can reply 'Oui, j'aime cuisiner' or 'Non, je n'aime pas cuisiner.' This is different from liking a specific food: 'J'aime le chocolat' (I like chocolate) uses a noun, not an infinitive.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Tu aimes cuisiner ?
Do you like to cook?tew em kwee-zee-nayOui, j'aime beaucoup cuisiner.
Yes, I really like to cook.wee, zhem bo-koo kwee-zee-nayEt ton frère, il aime cuisiner ?
And your brother, does he like to cook?ay ton frehr, eel em kwee-zee-nayNon, il n'aime pas cuisiner. Il préfère manger.
No, he doesn't like to cook. He prefers to eat.non, eel nem pah kwee-zee-nay. eel pray-fehr mahn-zhayA little context goes a long way
In French, 'cuisiner' and 'faire la cuisine' are both common, but 'cuisiner' often emphasizes the act, while 'faire la cuisine' can imply preparing a meal. In informal speech, 'ne' is often dropped in negative sentences: 'Je n'aime pas' becomes 'J'aime pas'. This is common in spoken French but avoid it in formal writing.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'J'aime cuisiner' to mean 'I like cooking' but using 'J'aime la cuisine' when you mean the activity. 'La cuisine' means 'the cooking' as a concept or 'the kitchen', but for the activity, use the infinitive.
Try this instead: Use 'J'aime cuisiner' for 'I like to cook'. 'J'aime la cuisine' means 'I like cooking' as a general concept or 'I like the cuisine', which is less precise for the activity.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I don't like to cook' in French?
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Je n'aime pas cuisiner.
This uses 'ne...pas' around 'aime' and the infinitive 'cuisiner'. In informal speech, you might hear 'J'aime pas cuisiner', but the full form is standard.
2Translate: 'She loves to cook.'
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Elle adore cuisiner.
'Adorer' is stronger than 'aimer'. You could also say 'Elle aime beaucoup cuisiner' for 'She really likes to cook'.
3What is the difference between 'J'aime cuisiner' and 'J'aime la cuisine'?
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'J'aime cuisiner' means 'I like to cook' (activity). 'J'aime la cuisine' means 'I like cooking' as a concept or 'I like the cuisine' (e.g., French cuisine).
The first uses an infinitive for the activity; the second uses a noun. Both are correct but convey slightly different meanings.
To say you like or dislike cooking in French, use 'aimer' + infinitive: 'J'aime cuisiner' or 'Je n'aime pas cuisiner.' Remember to use 'ne...pas' for negation and avoid confusing the activity with the noun 'la cuisine'.
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