Spanish Phrase
Unos 8-10 minutos por lado.
Meaning
It means ‘about eight to ten minutes for each side.’ The speaker is giving an approximate cooking or processing time, indicating that each side should be treated for that length of time.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are explaining how long to cook, grill, fry, or bake something that has two distinct sides, such as a steak, a piece of fish, or a pancake. It’s also handy for non‑culinary contexts like polishing both sides of a surface.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Unos8-10minutosporlado
Indefinite quantity (Unos)
‘Unos’ is an indefinite article used with plural nouns to mean ‘some’ or ‘approximately’.
Number range (8-10)
A hyphenated range indicates a span of numbers; in speech you say ‘ocho a diez’.
Measure noun (minutos)
‘Minutos’ is a masculine plural noun meaning ‘minutes’; it follows the number.
Preposition por
‘Por’ can mean ‘per’ in the sense of ‘for each’; here it links the time to each side.
Singular noun after por (lado)
Even though the idea is plural (both sides), Spanish uses the singular ‘lado’ after ‘por’.
🗨In Conversation
¿Cuánto tiempo lo cocinas?
How long do you cook it?
Unos 8-10 minutos por lado.
About eight to ten minutes per side.
✕Common Mistakes
Unos 8-10 minutos por los lados.
‘Por los lados’ sounds unnatural; the idiomatic form is singular ‘por lado’.
Unos ocho‑diez minutos por lado.
The range should be expressed as ‘ocho a diez minutos’ or ‘8‑10 minutos’, not as a single fused word.
8-10 minutos por cada lado.
While grammatically correct, beginners often forget the article and say ‘por cada lado’ without the preceding ‘unos’, which changes the nuance from ‘approximately’ to a precise instruction.
↔Alternatives
Entre 8 y 10 minutos por cada lado.
Between 8 and 10 minutes per each side.
Alrededor de 8 a 10 minutos por lado.
Around 8 to 10 minutes per side.
De 8 a 10 minutos por lado.
From 8 to 10 minutes per side.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking households, cooking instructions are often given in minutes per side rather than total time. ‘Por lado’ is the standard way to express this, and native speakers will instantly understand the implied flipping of the food. Avoid adding ‘los’ (por los lados) unless you are referring to multiple distinct sides of a non‑flat object.