Italian Phrase
Preparo la cena.
Meaning
Literally ‘I prepare the dinner.’ The speaker is either currently cooking or habitually gets the dinner ready. In Spanish the verb ‘preparar’ can cover both cooking and setting the table.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to tell someone what you’re doing in the kitchen, describe your daily routine, or answer the question ‘¿Qué haces?’ (What are you doing?).
✦Grammar Breakdown
Preparolacena
Verb conjugation (present)
‘Preparo’ is the first‑person singular present tense of ‘preparar’, meaning ‘I prepare’.
Definite article
‘la’ is the feminine singular definite article, matching the gender of ‘cena’.
Noun gender
‘cena’ (dinner) is a feminine noun, so it takes ‘la’.
🗨In Conversation
¿Qué haces?
What are you doing?
Preparo la cena.
I’m preparing dinner.
✕Common Mistakes
Prepara la cena.
‘Prepara’ is third‑person singular (he/she prepares). Use ‘Preparo’ for ‘I prepare’.
Preparo el cena.
The article must match the noun gender; ‘cena’ is feminine, so use ‘la’ not ‘el’.
Preparo la cenar.
‘Cenar’ is a verb, not a noun. The correct noun is ‘cena’.
↔Alternatives
Estoy cocinando la cena.
I’m cooking dinner.
Hago la cena.
I make dinner.
Voy a preparar la cena.
I’m going to prepare dinner.
Cultural Tip
In most Spanish‑speaking countries dinner (cena) is the main evening meal and is often eaten later than in Anglo‑American cultures, usually between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Preparing the cena can be a family activity, and it’s common to say ‘preparo la cena’ to let everyone know the meal is on its way.