Spanish Phrase
El plato principal sigue cocinándose.
Meaning
The sentence tells the listener that the main course is still in the process of being cooked. It emphasizes that the cooking is ongoing and has not yet finished.
When to use
Use this phrase in a kitchen, restaurant, or at home when you want to let guests, family members, or coworkers know that the main dish hasn't been served yet and is still on the stove or in the oven.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Elplatoprincipalsiguecocinándose
Definite article
"El" is the masculine singular definite article, used before a noun like "plato".
Noun + adjective order
In Spanish, adjectives usually follow the noun, so "plato principal" (main dish).
Verbo seguir
"Sigue" is the third‑person singular present of "seguir" (to continue), used to express an ongoing action.
Gerundio reflexivo
"Cocinándose" is the reflexive gerund of "cocinar"; the reflexive pronoun "se" shows that the dish is being cooked, not that someone is cooking it.
🗨In Conversation
¿Ya está listo el plato principal?
Is the main dish ready?
No, el plato principal sigue cocinándose.
No, the main dish is still cooking.
✕Common Mistakes
El plato principal está cocinándose.
Using "está" changes the nuance; it describes a state at this moment rather than the idea of continuation conveyed by "sigue".
El plato principal sigue cocinando.
The reflexive pronoun "se" is required because the dish is being cooked, not the subject performing the action.
↔Alternatives
El plato principal aún se está cocinando.
The main dish is still being cooked.
El plato principal continúa cocinándose.
The main dish continues to cook.
El plato principal está en proceso de cocción.
The main dish is in the process of cooking.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking households meals are served in multiple courses, so it’s common to keep diners informed about the progress of the main course. Using "sigue + gerundio" stresses continuity, which sounds more natural than just "está + gerundio" when you want to highlight that the cooking has been going on for a while.