# Cooking in Esperanto: kitchen words, verbs and a recipe

Source: https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/kitchen-cooking/
Language: en
Updated: 2026-10-11

> The kitchen is kuirejo, to cook is kuiri, to boil boli: Esperanto words for pots, tools and cooking verbs with pronunciation, plus a pancake recipe.

The kitchen is ***kuirejo***, from *kuiri* "to cook" and *-ej-* "place". The main cooking verbs are ***kuiri*** "to cook", ***boli*** "to boil", ***friti*** "to fry", ***baki*** "to bake" and ***rosti*** "to roast". Many tools are named after a verb: *tranĉi* "to cut" gives *tranĉilo* "knife". Food words are on the [food and drink](https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/food-drink/) page, the rest of the home on [house and home](https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/house-home/). Pronunciation guides split words into syllables, with the stressed syllable in capitals.

## The kitchen and its appliances

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| kitchen | *kuirejo* | ku-i-RE-jo | A place for cooking |
| oven | *bakforno* | bak-FOR-no | A *forno* for baking |
| furnace, kiln, oven | *forno* | FOR-no | Broader: baking, melting or heating |
| stove, cooker | *fornelo* | for-NE-lo | Oven plus hotplates or burners |
| oven compartment | *bakujo* | ba-KU-jo | *baki* + *-uj-* |
| refrigerator | *fridujo* | fri-DU-jo | The dictionary ReVo calls *frida* "cold" a neologism |
| freezer | *frostujo* | fros-TU-jo | Food keeps there for months |
| kettle | *bolkruĉo* | bol-KRU-ĉo | Handle, lid and spout |

## Pots, pans and tools

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| pot | *poto* | PO-to | Also a flowerpot |
| saucepan | *kaserolo* | ka-se-RO-lo | Deeper than a *pato* |
| frying pan | *pato* | PA-to | Shallow, long handle; ReVo also lists *fritilo* |
| lid | *kovrilo* | ko-VRI-lo | *kovri* "to cover" |
| sieve, colander | *kribrilo* | kri-BRI-lo | *kribri* "to sift" |
| grater | *raspilo* | ras-PI-lo | *raspi* "to grate" |
| whisk | *kirlilo* | kir-LI-lo | For beating eggs or cream |
| ladle | *ĉerpilo* | ĉer-PI-lo | For scooping liquid |
| scales | *pesilo* | pe-SI-lo | For weighing |

## Plates and cutlery

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| plate | *telero* | te-LE-ro | Shallow, to eat from |
| dish | *plado* | PLA-do | A serving plate, or the food on it |
| bowl | *bovlo* | BOV-lo | A vessel with no neck |
| cup | *taso* | TA-so | For hot drinks |
| glass | *glaso* | GLA-so | Taller than wide |
| knife | *tranĉilo* | tran-ĈI-lo | |
| fork | *forko* | FOR-ko | |
| spoon | *kulero* | ku-LE-ro | |
| cutlery | *manĝilaro* | man-ĝi-LA-ro | *manĝi* + *-il-* + *-ar-* |

## Cooking verbs

Nearly all cooking verbs are transitive: they take an object with *-n* (see [the accusative](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/accusative/)).

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| to cook | *kuiri* | ku-I-ri | The general verb |
| to boil food | *bolkuiri* | bol-ku-I-ri | In boiling water |
| to fry | *friti* | FRI-ti | In hot oil or fat |
| to bake | *baki* | BA-ki | In an oven or in ashes |
| to roast | *rosti* | ROS-ti | No added fat or water |
| to grill | *kradrosti* | krad-ROS-ti | On a grate over a fire |
| to stew | *stufi* | STU-fi | Slowly, in a closed pot |
| to steam | *vaporkuiri* | va-por-ku-I-ri | *vaporo* "steam" + *kuiri* |

## Preparing food

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| to cut | *tranĉi* | TRAN-ĉi | |
| to chop | *haki* | HA-ki | Strike to cut apart |
| to peel | *senŝeligi* | sen-ŝe-LI-gi | ReVo: *senŝeligi terpomon* |
| to mix | *miksi* | MIK-si | |
| to stir | *kirli* | KIR-li | A quick turning motion |
| to knead | *knedi* | KNE-di | Flour and water into dough |
| to pour | *verŝi* | VER-ŝi | A liquid |
| to pour, tip | *ŝuti* | ŜU-ti | Grain, sand, flour |
| to add | *aldoni* | al-DO-ni | |
| to spread, grease | *ŝmiri* | ŜMI-ri | A thin layer of fat |
| to salt / to season | *sali / spici* | SA-li / SPI-ci | Add salt / add spices |
| to taste, try | *gustumi* | gus-TU-mi | On purpose |

*Gusti* is a different verb and takes no object: *La supo bongustas.* "The soup tastes good." Compare *Mi gustumas la supon.* "I am tasting the soup."

## Heat and cold

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| to heat, warm | *varmigi* | var-MI-gi | |
| to cool, chill | *malvarmigi* | mal-var-MI-gi | |
| to melt | *fandi* | FAN-di | *fandiĝi* "to melt by itself" |
| to thaw | *degeli* | de-GE-li | Intransitive |
| to freeze | *frostigi* | fros-TI-gi | Make icy cold |
| to be cold | *fridi* | FRI-di | ReVo's example is a fridge |

## Boil, melt, cook: -ig- and -iĝ- in the kitchen

English uses one verb for "the water boils" and "I boil the water"; Esperanto uses two. *Boli* is what the liquid does, *boligi* what you do to it. Other verbs run the other way: *kuiri* is what you do to food, *kuiriĝi* what the food does. The rule is on the [-ig- and -iĝ-](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/transitivity/) page.

| Verbs | By itself | Someone does it |
|---|---|---|
| *boli* → *boligi* | *La lakto bolas.* "The milk is boiling." | *Mi boligas la lakton.* "I am boiling the milk." |
| *kuiriĝi* ← *kuiri* | *La supo kuiriĝas.* "The soup is cooking." | *Mi kuiras la supon.* "I am cooking the soup." |
| *fandiĝi* ← *fandi* | *La butero fandiĝas.* "The butter is melting." | *Mi fandas la buteron.* "I am melting the butter." |

## Measures

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| kilogram / gram | *kilogramo / gramo* | ki-lo-GRA-mo / GRA-mo | |
| litre | *litro* | LI-tro | |
| decilitre | *decilitro* | de-ci-LI-tro | A tenth of a litre |
| cup | *taso* | TA-so | ReVo: about 150 ml in cooking |
| tablespoon | *supkulero* | sup-ku-LE-ro | About 15 ml |
| teaspoon | *tekulero* | te-ku-LE-ro | About 5 ml |
| piece / slice | *peco / tranĉaĵo* | PE-co / tran-ĈA-ĵo | |
| half / quarter | *duono / kvarono* | du-O-no / kva-RO-no | *duono de la kuko* "half of the cake" |

The thing measured follows *da* and takes no *-n*: *du tasoj da faruno* "two cups of flour". The measure is the object: *Mi aldonas du tasojn da faruno.* More rules for *da* are on the [food and drink](https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/food-drink/) page.

## A recipe: krespoj (pancakes)

A recipe is a ***recepto*** and an ingredient an ***ingredienco***. ReVo defines *krespo* as a thin pancake of flour, milk and eggs, also called *patkuko*.

**Ingrediencoj** – ingredients: *150 gramoj da faruno* (150 g flour), *3 decilitroj da lakto* (3 dl milk), *2 ovoj* (2 eggs), *iom da salo* (a little salt), *1 supkulero da oleo* (1 tablespoon oil), *sukero kaj citrono* (sugar and lemon).

**Kiel prepari** – how to prepare:

1. *Metu la farunon en grandan bovlon.* – Put the flour in a large bowl.
2. *Rompu la ovojn en la bovlon kaj aldonu la lakton kaj iom da salo.* – Break the eggs into the bowl and add the milk and a little salt.
3. *Kirlu la miksaĵon per forko, ĝis ĝi fariĝos glata.* – Stir the mixture with a fork until it is smooth.
4. *Lasu la miksaĵon ripozi dek minutojn.* – Let it rest for ten minutes.
5. *Varmigu la paton kaj ŝmiru ĝin per iom da oleo.* – Heat the pan and grease it with a little oil.
6. *Verŝu en la paton iom de la miksaĵo.* – Pour a little of the mixture into the pan.
7. *Fritu la krespon du minutojn, turnu ĝin kaj fritu ĝin ankoraŭ unu minuton.* – Fry the pancake for two minutes, turn it over and fry it one more minute.
8. *Ripetu, ĝis la miksaĵo finiĝos.* – Repeat until the mixture is used up.
9. *Servu la krespojn kun sukero kaj citrono.* – Serve the pancakes with sugar and lemon.

Steps are commands ending in *-u* (see [verbs](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/verbs/)); add *ni* for "let's": *Ni kuiru!* A length of time takes *-n* without a preposition: *du minutojn*. And *da* never stands before *la*: *iom da salo*, but *iom de la miksaĵo* "some of the mixture".

## How kitchen words are built

| Word part | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| *-ej-* | place | *kuirejo* kitchen, *bakejo* bakery |
| *-il-* | tool, device | *tranĉilo* knife, *raspilo* grater, *rostilo* roasting device |
| *-uj-* | container | *fridujo* refrigerator, *piprujo* pepper shaker, *salujo* salt cellar |
| *-aĵ-* | a concrete thing | *kuiraĵo* a cooked dish, *fritaĵo* fried food, *bakaĵo* baked goods |
| *-ist-* | person with a trade | *kuiristo* cook, *bakisto* baker |
| *-ar-* | collection | *manĝilaro* cutlery, *vazaro* dishes |

PMEG says *-il-* words normally come from verbs, so a cooking verb gives you its tool: *rosti* → *rostilo*, *miksi* → *miksilo*. Not every such word is used: ReVo marks *bolilo* "to be avoided" and prefers *bolkruĉo*. See [suffixes](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/suffixes/) and [word building](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/word-building/). *Kuirilo* is any kitchen tool or appliance.

## Common questions

### How do you say "kitchen" in Esperanto?

*Kuirejo*, from *kuiri* "to cook" and *-ej-* "place".

### How do you say "to cook" in Esperanto?

*Kuiri*: *Mi kuiras vespermanĝon.* "I am cooking dinner." More specific are *friti*, *baki*, *rosti* and *bolkuiri*.

### What is the difference between boli and boligi?

*Boli* is what a liquid does: *La akvo bolas.* *Boligi* is what you do to it: *Mi boligas akvon.* For food in boiling water, say *bolkuiri*: *Mi bolkuiras terpomojn.*

### How do you give amounts in a recipe in Esperanto?

Name the measure, then *da*: *taso da lakto* "a cup of milk", *supkulero da oleo* "a tablespoon of oil".

## Sources

- ReVo: [kuiri, kuirejo, kuiriĝi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kuir.html), [forno, bakforno](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/forn.html), [fornelo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/fornel.html), [baki, bakujo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/bak.html), [fridujo, fridi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/frid.html), [frostujo, frostigi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/frost.html), [boli, bolilo, bolkruĉo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/bol.html), [pesilo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pes.html)
- ReVo: [poto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pot.html), [kaserolo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kasero.html), [pato](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pat.html), [kovrilo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kovr.html), [kribrilo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kribr.html), [raspilo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/rasp.html), [kirlilo, kirli](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kirl.html), [ĉerpilo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/cxerp.html), [telero](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/teler.html), [plado](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/plad.html), [bovlo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/bovl.html), [taso](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/tas.html), [glaso](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/glas.html), [tranĉilo, tranĉi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/trancx.html), [forko](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/fork.html), [kulero, supkulero](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kuler.html), [manĝilaro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/mangx.html)
- ReVo: [friti](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/frit.html), [rosti, kradrosti](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/rost.html), [stufi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/stuf.html), [haki](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/hak.html), [senŝeligi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/sxel.html), [miksi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/miks.html), [knedi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kned.html), [verŝi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/versx.html), [ŝuti](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/sxut.html), [ŝmiri](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/sxmir.html), [gustumi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/gust.html), [varmigi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/varm.html), [fandi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/fand.html), [degeli](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/degel.html), [gramo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/gram.html), [litro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/litr.html), [decilitro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/decili.html), [krespo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kresp.html), [recepto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/recept.html), [ingredienco](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/ingred.html), [piprujo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pipr.html)
- PMEG: [IL](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/il.html), [UJ](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/uj.html), [EJ](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ej.html), [AĴ](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ajh.html), [AR](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ar.html), [IST](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ist.html), [U](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/verboj/vola.html), [N por mezuro](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/rolmontriloj/n/mezuro.html), [Da – bazaj reguloj](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/rolmontriloj/rolvortetoj/da/bazaj_reguloj.html), [Da – detalaj reguloj](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/rolmontriloj/rolvortetoj/da/detalaj_reguloj.html), [IG](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ig.html), [IĜ](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/igh.html)