Definition
The room in a home or building where food is prepared and cooked.
Example
Ela passa horas na cozinha preparando o jantar.
Show translation
She spends hours in the kitchen preparing dinner.
Etymology
From Latin *coquīna*, derived from *coquere* ("to cook"). The word traveled through Vulgar Latin into Portuguese largely unchanged in meaning, making it one of the most stable domestic vocabulary items in the Romance family. Spanish *cocina* and Italian *cucina* are close cousins.
Cultural note
In Brazilian culture, the cozinha is often the social heart of the home — guests commonly gather there rather than in the living room. Brazilian cooking traditions vary enormously by region: the cozinha baiana (Bahian kitchen) is famous for its African-influenced dishes like acarajé and moqueca, while the cozinha mineira (Minas Gerais kitchen) is known for hearty, rustic comfort food. The phrase "entrar pela cozinha" (to enter through the kitchen) also exists as an idiom meaning to take the informal or back-door route into something.