Spanish for Live Cooking Instruction: Guiding Someone Step by Step
Learn to give real-time cooking directions in Latin American Spanish, using commands, sequencing words, and helpful phrases to guide someone through a recipe.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you cook with someone in Spanish, you don't just read a recipe—you give live instructions. You tell them when to stir, how much to add, and what to do next. This lesson teaches you the key commands, sequencing words, and polite phrases to guide someone through a dish from start to finish, using natural Latin American Spanish.
By the end, you can…
- give affirmative tú commands to instruct someone in the kitchen.
- sequence steps using words like primero, luego, and después.
- specify quantities and ingredients in real time.
- offer polite suggestions and check for understanding.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Primero, calienta el aceite en una sartén grande.
First, heat the oil in a large frying pan.
PREE-meh-roh, kah-LYEHN-tah el ah-SAY-teh en OO-nah sar-TEHN GRAHN-deh
Use 'primero' to start a sequence. 'Calienta' is an affirmative tú command from 'calentar'.
Luego, agrega la cebolla picada y revuelve.
Then, add the chopped onion and stir.
LWEH-goh, ah-GREH-gah lah seh-BOH-yah pee-KAH-dah ee reh-BWEL-veh
'Luego' means 'then' or 'next'. 'Agrega' and 'revuelve' are tú commands.
Después de unos minutos, añade el ajo y cocina por un minuto más.
After a few minutes, add the garlic and cook for one more minute.
des-PWEHS deh OO-nohs mee-NOO-tohs, ah-NYAH-deh el AH-hoh ee koh-SEE-nah por oon mee-NOO-toh mahs
'Después de' means 'after'. 'Añade' is a command from 'añadir'.
Ahora, vierte la salsa de tomate y sazona con sal y pimienta.
Now, pour the tomato sauce and season with salt and pepper.
ah-OH-rah, BYEHR-teh lah SAHL-sah deh toh-MAH-teh ee sah-SOH-nah kohn sahl ee pee-MYEHN-tah
'Vierte' is a command from 'verter'. 'Sazona' means 'season'.
Baja el fuego y deja que hierva a fuego lento por diez minutos.
Lower the heat and let it simmer for ten minutes.
BAH-hah el FWEH-goh ee DEH-hah keh YEHR-vah ah FWEH-goh LEHN-toh por DYEHS mee-NOO-tohs
'Baja el fuego' means 'lower the heat'. 'Deja que hierva' is 'let it boil/simmer'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern: Affirmative tú commands
To tell someone to do something in a friendly, informal way, use the tú command. For most verbs, drop the -s from the present tense tú form: 'calienta' (from calientas), 'agrega' (from agregas), 'revuelve' (from revuelves). Some verbs are irregular: 'di' (say), 'haz' (do), 've' (go), 'pon' (put), 'sal' (leave). For example: 'Pon la carne en la sartén' (Put the meat in the pan). Use these commands when guiding someone step by step.
When to use it: Sequencing and politeness
Use sequencing words to make instructions clear: 'primero' (first), 'luego' (then), 'después' (after), 'ahora' (now), 'finalmente' (finally). To soften commands, add 'por favor' or use a question: '¿Puedes agregar la sal?' (Can you add the salt?). For more formal situations, use usted commands: 'Caliente el aceite' (Heat the oil). In Latin America, tú is common among friends and family, but usted shows respect to elders or strangers.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Primero, calienta el aceite en una sartén grande a fuego medio.
First, heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat.PREE-meh-roh, kah-LYEHN-tah el ah-SAY-teh en OO-nah sar-TEHN GRAHN-deh ah FWEH-goh MEH-dyohListo. ¿Ahora qué hago?
Done. What do I do now?LEES-toh. ah-OH-rah keh AH-gohAgrega la cebolla y el ajo picados. Revuelve de vez en cuando.
Add the chopped onion and garlic. Stir occasionally.ah-GREH-gah lah seh-BOH-yah ee el AH-hoh pee-KAH-dohs. reh-BWEL-veh deh vehs en KWAHN-doh¿Cuánto tiempo los cocino?
How long do I cook them?KWAHN-toh TYEHM-poh lohs koh-SEE-nohA little context goes a long way
In Latin American Spanish, the informal tú is widely used in everyday cooking situations, but usted is preferred with older people or in formal contexts. In some regions, like parts of Argentina and Uruguay, vos is used instead of tú, with different command forms: 'calentá' instead of 'calienta'. Always pay attention to the context and the person you're speaking to.
One thing to watch for
Using the infinitive to give a command, e.g., 'Calentar el aceite' instead of 'Calienta el aceite'.
Try this instead: In Spanish, to give a direct command, use the imperative form, not the infinitive. For example, say 'Calienta el aceite' (Heat the oil) when speaking to someone informally.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you tell a friend to 'add the salt' using an affirmative tú command?
Show a sample answer
Agrega la sal.
'Agrega' is the tú command form of 'agregar'. You could also say 'Añade la sal' using 'añadir'. Both are correct.
2What sequencing word would you use to say 'then' or 'next'?
Show a sample answer
Luego.
'Luego' is a common way to say 'then' or 'next'. 'Después' is also correct and means 'after' or 'later'.
3How do you say 'lower the heat' as a command?
Show a sample answer
Baja el fuego.
'Baja' is the tú command of 'bajar'. You could also say 'Baje el fuego' for formal usted.
Use affirmative tú commands to give live cooking instructions, sequence with words like primero and luego, and adjust to usted or vos for regional and formal contexts.
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