Cooker vs Stove

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Cooker

Top 3,000 (common)A2noun

Stove

Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
Most common: Stove
 CookerStove
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈkʊkə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkʊkər/"]/🇬🇧 /["/stəʊv/"]/🇺🇸 /["/stəʊv/"]/
MeaningA device used for cooking food.A type of kitchen appliance that cooks food using heat.
Examplea gas cookera **gas/wood-burning stove**
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 3,000 (common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR levelA2B2
Part of speechnounnoun
Collocationselectric, gas, pressure, hob, hoodhot, kitchen, electric, light, turn off, turn on, on the stove, slave over a hot stove, hot, kitchen, electric, light, turn off, turn on, on the stove, slave over a hot stove
Antonymsuncookercold, chill
Common mistakesConfused with 'cook' which refers to a person who prepares food., Using it to describe cooking processes rather than the appliance.Confusing 'stove' with 'oven' — they are different appliances., Using 'stove' as a verb, which is incorrect., Saying 'the stoves' when referring to one stove.
Usage notesCommonly used in both home and restaurant contexts. It's appropriate when referring to any appliance that cooks, such as an oven or stovetop. Avoid using it when talking about cooking methods or specific recipes.Used in cooking contexts. Appropriate in both casual and formal settings when discussing kitchen equipment. Avoid using in technical discussions about heating systems.

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Stove

Frequently asked questions: Cooker vs Stove

What's the difference between Cooker and Stove?

Cooker: A device used for cooking food. Stove: A type of kitchen appliance that cooks food using heat.

Which is more common: Cooker and Stove?

Stove is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Cooker and Stove?

Stove is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Cooker and Stove the same CEFR level?

Cooker: A2, Stove: B2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Cooker and Stove?

Cooker: noun, Stove: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Cooker: a gas cooker Stove: a **gas/wood-burning stove**

Can I use Cooker and Stove interchangeably?

Not always. Cooker and Stove are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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