kochen
to cook
To prepare a meal by heating it. In the narrower sense, also to cook food in boiling water.
EXAMPLE
Was soll ich heute Abend für uns kochen?
What should I cook for us this evening?
kochen
to cook / to boil
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
kochen
to boil
To reach the state in which a liquid forms bubbles at a certain temperature and turns into steam; to simmer or boil.
EXAMPLE
Das Wasser für den Kaffee kocht bereits.
The water for the coffee is already boiling.
kochen vor Wut
to boil with rage
Figuratively, to be very angry; to be filled with intense rage.
EXAMPLE
Nach der ungerechten Anschuldigung kochte er vor Wut.
After the unfair accusation, he was boiling with rage.
Usage tips
Context clue
The context shows whether 'kochen' means 'to prepare a meal' or 'to boil'. If a person is the subject, it is usually about food. If a liquid is the subject, it is about boiling.
EXAMPLE
Ich koche heute Abend eine Gemüsesuppe.
I'm cooking a vegetable soup this evening.
Sentence structure and use
'Kochen' can be used with an accusative object to say what you are preparing. It can also stand without an object and then means generally 'to prepare a meal'.
EXAMPLE
Er kocht einen großen Topf Nudeln.
He is cooking a big pot of pasta.
General use
In everyday language, 'kochen' is often used as a general term for preparing a hot meal, even if you are actually frying, baking, or steaming something.
EXAMPLE
Was kochen wir heute? Ich hätte Lust auf Pizza.
What are we cooking today? I feel like pizza.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'kochen vor Wut' (to boil with rage) is a fixed structure. The preposition 'vor' is used here to express the reason for the strong feeling. You can also say 'vor Eifersucht kochen' (to boil with jealousy).
EXAMPLE
Als er die Lüge hörte, kochte er innerlich vor Wut.
When he heard the lie, he was inwardly boiling with rage.
Compare with
kochen vs zubereiten
to prepare
Both verbs can describe preparing a meal. „Kochen“ often refers to the entire activity and is especially suitable for a hot meal, while „zubereiten“ also includes mixing or other steps that do not involve heating. Use „kochen“ for a specific cooking action and „zubereiten“ for general preparation as well.
kochen
Für das Abendessen koche ich heute eine warme Suppe.
I’m cooking a hot soup for dinner today.
zubereiten
Für das Abendessen bereite ich heute einen frischen Salat zu.
I’m preparing a fresh salad for dinner today.
In real life
Loading video examples...