How to Say 'I Like to Cook' in German: Expressing Activity Preferences
Learn to say 'I like to cook' and 'I don't like to cook' in German using gern and nicht gern, with the verb kochen and the important word order rule for separable verbs.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
In German, liking an activity is expressed differently from liking a thing. To say you like doing something, you normally use the adverb gern (gladly) with a verb, not a verb meaning 'like'. This lesson teaches you to say 'I like to cook' and 'I don't like to cook' with the verb kochen, and shows how the same pattern works with other activities. You will also learn the word order rule that applies when a separable verb such as einkaufen is used in a main clause.
By the end, you can…
- say that I like to cook using gern with the verb kochen.
- say that I do not like to cook using nicht gern.
- ask another person whether they like to cook.
- use the same gern pattern with at least two other everyday activities.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Ich koche gern.
I like to cook.
ikh KOKH-uh gern
The standard, neutral way to say you enjoy cooking. The adverb gern comes after the verb.
Ich koche nicht gern.
I don't like to cook.
ikh KOKH-uh nikht gern
The usual way to express dislike of the activity. nicht gern goes after the verb, before any other adverbs.
Kochst du gern?
Do you like to cook?
kokhst doo gern
Yes-or-no question. The verb kochst comes first, then du, then gern.
Ich koche sehr gern.
I really like to cook.
ikh KOKH-uh zair gern
sehr gern strengthens the preference. Common in everyday speech.
Ich koche lieber.
I prefer to cook.
ikh KOKH-uh LEE-ber
lieber expresses a preference between two options, not simply liking an activity.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The basic pattern is subject + conjugated verb + gern. German does not use a verb meaning 'to like' here. Instead, gern is an adverb meaning 'gladly' or 'with pleasure'. So 'Ich koche gern' literally means 'I cook gladly'. To make it negative, put nicht before gern: 'Ich koche nicht gern'. You can also use gern with other verbs: 'Ich lese gern' (I like to read), 'Ich schwimme gern' (I like to swim), 'Ich höre gern Musik' (I like listening to music).
When to use it
Use gern when you are talking about an activity you enjoy doing. Use nicht gern when you dislike the activity. If you want to compare two activities, use lieber instead: 'Ich koche lieber als ich backe' (I prefer cooking to baking). In southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland, you may also hear gern in the form gerne; both are correct, and gerne is common in writing. For food preferences, by contrast, you would use a different structure, for example 'Ich mag Pizza' (I like pizza), because mag refers to a thing, not an activity.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Kochst du gern?
Do you like to cook?kokhst doo gernJa, ich koche sehr gern. Und du?
Yes, I really like to cook. And you?yah, ikh KOKH-uh zair gern. unt dooIch koche nicht gern. Ich esse lieber im Restaurant.
I don't like to cook. I prefer eating in a restaurant.ikh KOKH-uh nikht gern. ikh ESS-uh LEE-ber im res-toh-RAHNTDas verstehe ich. Aber ich koche gern für meine Familie.
I understand that. But I like cooking for my family.dahs fair-SHTAY-uh ikh. AH-ber ikh KOKH-uh gern fewr MY-nuh fah-MEE-lee-uhA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, gern is the normal, neutral way to express enjoyment of an activity in conversation. The variant gerne is equally correct and appears frequently in southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well as in more formal writing. Using mögen with an activity, as in 'Ich mag kochen', sounds unusual in standard German and is best avoided in this meaning.
One thing to watch for
Ich mag kochen.
Try this instead: Use gern with the activity verb instead: 'Ich koche gern.' The verb mögen normally takes a noun object, as in 'Ich mag Pizza' (I like pizza). For activities, German uses gern.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I like to cook' in standard German?
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Ich koche gern.
This uses the subject ich, the verb koche and the adverb gern. 'Ich koche gerne' is also correct, especially in southern regions and Austria.
2How do you say 'I don't like to cook'?
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Ich koche nicht gern.
nicht is placed before gern. 'Ich koche nicht gerne' is an equally valid variant.
3Translate: 'Do you like to cook?'
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Kochst du gern?
In a yes-or-no question, the conjugated verb kochst comes first, followed by du and gern. 'Kochst du gerne?' is also correct.
To talk about liking an activity in German, use gern after the verb: 'Ich koche gern'. For dislike, use nicht gern: 'Ich koche nicht gern'. Keep gern for activities and mag for things.
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