पकाना खाना
to cook food
Littéralement: to cook (pakana) food (khana)
Use 'khana pakana' for any meal involving heat, from daily chores to professional cooking.
En 15 secondes
- The standard way to say 'to cook food' in Hindi.
- Uses 'khana' (food) and 'pakana' (to cook) together.
- Neutral formality, perfect for home, friends, or work.
Signification
This phrase is the most common way to say you are preparing a meal. It literally means 'to cook food' and covers everything from a simple dal to a complex biryani.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Telling a roommate you are busy
Main abhi khana paka rahi hoon.
I am cooking food right now.
Asking a friend about their skills
Kya tumhe khana pakana pasand hai?
Do you like to cook food?
Complimenting a chef in a formal setting
Aapne bahut swadisht khana pakaya hai.
You have cooked very delicious food.
Contexte culturel
Food is central to Indian hospitality, where the guest is treated like a god ('Atithi Devo Bhava'). The phrase 'khana pakana' carries a sense of domestic warmth and is often associated with the aromatic spices that define Indian cuisine. In many households, the 'rasoi' (kitchen) is a sacred space where the family's health and happiness are nurtured.
The 'Banana' Alternative
If you forget 'pakana', just use 'banana' (to make). It works for almost everything in the kitchen!
Don't Cook the Salad
Only use 'pakana' for things that involve fire or heat. Using it for raw food sounds very strange.
En 15 secondes
- The standard way to say 'to cook food' in Hindi.
- Uses 'khana' (food) and 'pakana' (to cook) together.
- Neutral formality, perfect for home, friends, or work.
What It Means
Khana pakana is your go-to phrase for the act of cooking. In Hindi, khana means food and pakana means to cook. When you put them together, you're talking about the process of using heat to prepare a meal. It’s a foundational phrase that every beginner needs. Whether you are boiling an egg or preparing a massive Sunday lunch, this is the expression you'll use. It’s simple, direct, and universally understood across India.
How To Use It
You will mostly use this as a verb phrase. Remember that in Hindi, the noun khana usually comes before the verb pakana. You conjugate the pakana part based on who is doing the cooking and when. For example, if you are cooking right now, you’d say Main khana paka raha hoon. If you want to ask someone if they know how to cook, you’d ask Kya aapko khana pakana aata hai?. It’s very flexible and works with all tenses. Just don't forget to match the gender of the speaker!
When To Use It
Use this phrase in any daily situation involving a kitchen. Use it when you're telling your roommate you'll handle dinner tonight. Use it when you're at a friend's house and want to offer help in the kitchen. It’s also perfect for professional settings, like if you're a chef or working in a restaurant. If you're texting a friend to ask what they're up to, a quick Kya paka rahe ho? (What are you cooking?) is a very natural way to start a conversation.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use pakana for foods that don't involve heat. If you're making a salad, a sandwich, or a smoothie, use the verb banana (to make) instead. Saying salad pakana sounds like you're planning to put lettuce in a frying pan, which might raise some eyebrows! Also, avoid using it metaphorically unless you're trying to say someone is 'cooking up' a lie, though even then, there are better slang terms for that.
Cultural Background
In Indian culture, food is a love language. The kitchen, or rasoi, is considered the heart of the home. Cooking isn't just a chore; it’s an act of care. You’ll often hear the phrase Maa ke haath ka khana (food from mother’s hands), which refers to the special taste of home-cooked meals. Historically, recipes were passed down orally, making the act of khana pakana a vital link between generations. If someone invites you over and says they are khana pakaing, get ready for a feast!
Common Variations
The most common alternative is khana banana. While pakana specifically implies heat and cooking, banana is a general term for 'making.' Most people use them interchangeably in casual speech. You might also hear rasoi banana in some regions, which literally means 'making the kitchen' but actually means preparing the meal. If you want to sound a bit more sophisticated, you can use bhojan taiyar karna (preparing the meal), but stick to khana pakana for daily life.
Notes d'usage
The phrase is neutral and safe for all contexts. Just remember that 'pakana' conjugates like a regular '-na' verb, and 'khana' acts as the object.
The 'Banana' Alternative
If you forget 'pakana', just use 'banana' (to make). It works for almost everything in the kitchen!
Don't Cook the Salad
Only use 'pakana' for things that involve fire or heat. Using it for raw food sounds very strange.
The Magic of 'Haath'
Indians often say 'Aapke haath mein jadu hai' (There is magic in your hands) when they love your cooking!
Exemples
6Main abhi khana paka rahi hoon.
I am cooking food right now.
Standard present continuous usage for a female speaker.
Kya tumhe khana pakana pasand hai?
Do you like to cook food?
A great conversation starter for a first meeting.
Aapne bahut swadisht khana pakaya hai.
You have cooked very delicious food.
Uses the past tense to praise the result.
Aaj raat kya pakaun?
What should I cook tonight?
Shortened version often used in texting.
Maine khana pakaya, lekin kisine nahi khaya!
I cooked food, but nobody ate it!
A self-deprecating joke about one's cooking skills.
Mujhe ghar ka pakaya khana sabse achha lagta hai.
I like home-cooked food the best.
Shows emotional attachment to home cooking.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank to say 'I am cooking food.'
Main khana ___ hoon.
'Paka raha' is the masculine present continuous form of 'pakana'.
Choose the correct word for 'food' in this phrase.
Mummy ___ paka rahi hain.
'Khana' means food, which is what you cook.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality of 'Khana Pakana'
Used with friends and family.
Kya paka rahe ho?
Standard everyday usage.
Main khana paka raha hoon.
Polite or professional settings.
Bhojan pakane ki vidhi.
Where to use 'Khana Pakana'
At Home
Daily dinner prep
Restaurant
Talking to a chef
Texting
Asking about plans
Hobbies
Talking about interests
Questions fréquentes
10 questions'Pakana' specifically means to cook with heat, while 'banana' means to make or prepare. You can 'banana' a sandwich, but you 'pakana' a curry.
Yes, it is perfectly neutral. You can ask the waiter, Khana pakane mein kitna samay lagega? (How long will it take to cook the food?).
It is neutral. It is appropriate for both a casual chat with your mom and a professional conversation with a chef.
You can say, Mujhe khana pakana nahi aata. This is a very common and useful phrase for beginners!
Yes, although 'bake karna' is becoming common, 'pakana' still works as a general term for preparing food with heat.
This is a slang idiom! It literally means 'to cook the brain,' but it actually means to annoy or bore someone with too much talking.
In standard Hindi sentences, it is khana pakana (Noun + Verb). For example: Main khana paka raha hoon.
You would ask, Aaj khana kaun paka raha hai?. It's a very common question in shared households.
Yes, the word bhojan is more formal. You might see bhojan pakana in books or on formal menus.
Usually, for tea, we use the verb banana (Chai banana). Using pakana for tea sounds a bit heavy or technical.
Expressions liées
खाना बनाना
to make food (general)
रसोई
kitchen
स्वादिष्ट
delicious
पका हुआ
cooked / ripe
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