Italian for Live Cooking Instruction: Guiding Someone Through a Recipe Step by Step
Learn to give real-time cooking instructions in Italian using imperative forms, sequencing words, and helpful phrases for guiding someone through a recipe.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you cook together in Italian, you don't just read a recipe—you guide someone through each step as it happens. This lesson teaches you the exact phrases to say 'add the salt now,' 'stir gently,' 'wait until it boils,' and 'taste it.' You'll learn the informal imperative (for friends and family) and the formal imperative (for guests or people you respect), plus sequencing words like prima, poi, and infine. By the end, you'll be able to run a live cooking session in Italian, responding to what's happening in the pan, not just following a written list.
By the end, you can…
- give step-by-step cooking instructions using informal and formal imperative forms.
- use sequencing words to order actions during cooking.
- tell someone when to add ingredients, how to stir, and when a dish is ready.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Prima scalda l'olio in una padella.
First heat the oil in a frying pan.
PREE-mah SKAL-dah l'OH-lyoh een OO-nah pah-DEL-lah
Use 'scalda' (informal imperative of scaldare) when giving instructions to one person you know well. For formal, say 'scaldi'.
Adesso aggiungi la cipolla e falla soffriggere.
Now add the onion and let it sauté.
ah-DES-soh ah-JOON-jee lah chee-POL-lah eh FAL-lah sof-FREE-jeh-reh
'Aggiungi' is informal imperative of aggiungere. 'Falla soffriggere' means 'let it sauté'—the pronoun 'la' attaches to 'fa'.
Mescola piano piano per non bruciare il sugo.
Stir very gently so you don't burn the sauce.
MES-koh-lah PYAH-noh PYAH-noh pehr nohn broo-CHAH-reh eel SOO-goh
'Piano piano' means 'very gently' or 'slowly'. Use 'mescola' for informal; 'mescoli' for formal.
Aspetta che l'acqua bolla, poi butta la pasta.
Wait until the water boils, then throw in the pasta.
ah-SPET-tah keh LAH-kwah BOL-lah, poy BOOT-tah lah PAH-stah
'Aspetta che' is followed by the subjunctive 'bolla'—this is standard Italian, though in casual speech you may also hear the indicative 'bolle'. 'Butta' is informal for 'throw in'.
Assaggia e dimmi se manca il sale.
Taste it and tell me if it needs salt.
ahs-SAH-jah eh DEEM-mee seh MAHN-kah eel SAH-leh
'Assaggia' is informal imperative of assaggiare. 'Manca il sale' literally means 'salt is missing' = 'it needs salt'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To give live cooking instructions, use the informal imperative (tu form) for friends and family. For -are verbs, the tu imperative ends in -a: scalda (heat), mescola (stir), assaggia (taste). For -ere and -ire verbs, it ends in -i: aggiungi (add), prendi (take), apri (open). For formal (Lei), use the present subjunctive forms: scaldi, mescoli, aggiunga, prenda, apra. Example: 'Scalda l'olio' (informal) vs. 'Scaldi l'olio' (formal). Negative informal commands use non + infinitive: 'Non bruciare l'aglio!' (Don't burn the garlic!). Negative formal uses non + subjunctive: 'Non bruci l'aglio!'
When to use it
Use the informal imperative when cooking with friends, family, or children. Use the formal imperative with guests, older people, or anyone you address with Lei. In a cooking class, the instructor might use the informal with a single student they know, but formal with a group of adults they don't know. Sequencing words like prima (first), poi (then), dopo (after), and infine (finally) help organize steps. For example: 'Prima scalda l'olio, poi aggiungi la cipolla, dopo due minuti versa il pomodoro, e infine aggiusta di sale.' You can also use 'adesso' (now) or 'a questo punto' (at this point) to signal the next action.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Allora, per iniziare, scalda un po' d'olio in una padella grande.
So, to start, heat a little oil in a large pan.ahl-LOH-rah, pehr ee-nee-TSYAH-reh, SKAL-dah oon poh DOH-lyoh een OO-nah pah-DEL-lah GRAHN-dehVa bene. Quanto olio devo mettere?
Okay. How much oil should I put?vah BEH-neh. KWAHN-toh OH-lyoh DEH-voh MET-teh-rehDue cucchiai bastano. Quando è caldo, aggiungi la cipolla tritata e falla dorare.
Two tablespoons are enough. When it's hot, add the chopped onion and let it brown.DOO-eh koot-CHYAH-ee BAH-stah-noh. KWAHN-doh eh KAHL-doh, ah-JOON-jee lah chee-POL-lah tree-TAH-tah eh FAL-lah doh-RAH-rehOk, la cipolla sta diventando trasparente. Cosa faccio adesso?
Okay, the onion is becoming transparent. What do I do now?oh-KAY, lah chee-POL-lah stah dee-vehn-TAHN-doh trahs-pah-REHN-teh. KOH-zah FAHT-choh ah-DES-sohA little context goes a long way
In Italian cooking instructions, the informal imperative is common among family and friends, but using it with strangers or superiors can sound rude. Always use the formal Lei form in those contexts. Regional differences exist in vocabulary: in the south, 'butta la pasta' is standard, while in the north you might hear 'metti la pasta'. Both are correct. When in doubt, use the formal to be safe.
One thing to watch for
Using the infinitive as a command, e.g., 'Scaldare l'olio' instead of 'Scalda l'olio'.
Try this instead: In live instruction, use the imperative: 'Scalda l'olio' (informal) or 'Scaldi l'olio' (formal). The infinitive is used for generic instructions on signs or recipes, not when speaking directly to someone.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you tell a friend to 'add the salt' using the informal imperative?
Show a sample answer
Aggiungi il sale.
'Aggiungi' is the informal imperative of aggiungere. For formal, it would be 'Aggiunga il sale'. Both are correct depending on context.
2What sequencing word means 'then' in Italian?
Show a sample answer
Poi.
'Poi' is the most common word for 'then'. 'Dopo' can also mean 'after', but 'poi' is used for sequencing steps.
3How do you say 'Taste it and tell me if it needs salt' informally?
Show a sample answer
Assaggia e dimmi se manca il sale.
'Assaggia' is informal imperative, 'dimmi' means 'tell me'. 'Manca il sale' is the idiomatic way to say 'it needs salt'.
Use the informal imperative with friends and family, the formal with others. Sequence with prima, poi, infine. Practice giving live instructions while cooking—it's the fastest way to make these forms automatic.
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