готовить vs приготовить

gotovit vs prigotovit — cook/prepare in general vs prepare and have ready

What it really means

Готовить is imperfective for cooking or preparing as a process, skill, or routine. Приготовить is perfective for preparing something on one occasion and bringing it to readiness. Both are transitive; the food or item prepared is in the accusative.

Готовить can also mean prepare more broadly, such as prepare a report. Приготовить emphasizes the finished result.

Examples in natural speech

Я готовлю ужин.
I am cooking dinner.
Она хорошо готовит.
She cooks well.
Я приготовлю суп к семи.
I will have the soup ready by seven.
Он приготовил кофе.
He made coffee.
Приготовь, пожалуйста, документы.
Please prepare the documents.

Common mistakes

Do not use приготовить for a general ability: “Она хорошо готовит,” not “хорошо приготовит.” The perfective form needs a particular completed preparation.

Memory tip

При- suggests an arrival at readiness: приготовить = prepare and have ready.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between готовить and приготовить?

Готовить is the process or habit of cooking/preparing. Приготовить is one completed preparation.

How do you say I will cook dinner?

For dinner as one finished task, say “Я приготовлю ужин.”

Can готовить mean prepare, not cook?

Yes. You can готовить документы, доклад, or урок as well as food.

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