How to say “The stove is still on” in Spanish

Introduction

Knowing how to say the stove is still on in Spanish can help you in everyday home situations and emergencies. This article explains common ways to communicate that the stove remains on, when to use each phrase, and useful related vocabulary and polite expressions for different contexts.

Basic translations and direct phrases

Start with simple, direct ways to say the stove is still on. The most literal and common phrase is La estufa sigue encendida. Use this when you want to state the fact plainly.

Other direct variants include La estufa está todavía encendida and La estufa todavía está encendida. These are slightly more emphatic because of the position of todavía, and both are natural in conversation.

Examples

La estufa sigue encendida
La estufa está todavía encendida
La estufa todavía está encendida

Regional vocabulary: estufa, cocina, hornilla

Different Spanish speakers use different words for stove. Learn three common nouns and when they fit.

La estufa is common in many countries and refers to a stove or heater depending on context. For kitchen stoves, it’s widely understood.

La cocina can mean the stove, the cooktop, or the entire kitchen. Context decides meaning. For example, La cocina está encendida likely means the stove is on, while Estoy en la cocina means I’m in the kitchen.

La hornilla or plural las hornillas specifically refers to burners or small cooking rings, common in Latin America. Use it when you want to indicate a particular burner is on.

Examples with different nouns

La cocina sigue encendida (The stove/cooktop is still on)
La hornilla está todavía encendida (The burner is still on)
Las hornillas siguen encendidas (The burners are still on)

Polite and urgent ways to warn someone

Depending on the situation, you may want to warn someone politely or urgently. Use tone and word choice to match the urgency.

For a polite reminder, use phrases like No te olvides: la estufa está encendida or Oye, la estufa sigue encendida. These are gentle and suitable for family or roommates.

For urgent warnings use stronger imperatives. Say Cuidado, la estufa está encendida or Apaga la estufa ahora when quick action is needed. The verb apagar means to turn off or extinguish, an important verb for safety contexts.

Polite and urgent examples

No te olvides: la estufa está encendida
Oye, la estufa sigue encendida
Cuidado, la estufa está encendida
Apaga la estufa ahora

Using the verb phrase with different tenses

Adjust the verb tense to communicate nuance: whether the stove has been on for a while, whether someone just left it on, or whether you discovered it now.

To say it has been on for a while, use present perfect: La estufa ha estado encendida. This implies the state has lasted over a period.

To express that it was on but may have been turned off, use simple past: La estufa estuvo encendida. To say you discovered it on, use preterite with discovery verb: Acabo de ver que la estufa está encendida.

Tense examples

La estufa ha estado encendida desde esta mañana (The stove has been on since this morning)
La estufa estuvo encendida cuando llegué a casa (The stove was on when I got home)
Acabo de ver que la estufa está encendida (I just saw that the stove is on)

Short warning phrases and commands

Short, direct commands are common in urgent situations. The imperative forms are essential for quick communication.

Apaga la estufa is the basic command to turn off the stove. For a more polite command, use the conditional or subjunctive constructions such as Por favor, apaga la estufa or ¿Podrías apagar la estufa?

If addressing more than one person or using the formal usted, use Apague la estufa (usted) or Apaguen la estufa (ustedes).

Command examples

Apaga la estufa, por favor (Turn off the stove, please)
¿Podrías apagar la estufa? (Could you turn off the stove?)
Apague la estufa ahora, por favor (Please turn off the stove now — formal)

Short dialogues for real-life contexts

Practicing short dialogues helps with natural phrasing. Below are scenarios you might encounter with appropriate language.

At home with a roommate

Roommate A: Oye, la estufa sigue encendida
Roommate B: ¿En serio? Voy a apagarla ahora

At a friend’s house after dinner

You: Disculpa, la cocina está todavía encendida
Friend: ¡Gracias! Me distraje. La apago enseguida

In a rental property handoff

Host: Antes de irnos, ¿puedes asegurarte de que la estufa está apagada?
Guest: Sí, acabo de revisar. La estufa está apagada

Useful verbs and adjectives to expand vocabulary

Learning related verbs and adjectives improves flexibility when discussing appliances and safety.

Apagar — to turn off
Encender — to turn on
Sigue / Seguir — to continue / still
Todavía — still / yet (adverb)
Encendida / Encendido — lit/on (adjective)
Caliente — hot (temperatures)

Example sentences with related vocabulary

Por favor, apaga la estufa antes de salir (Please turn off the stove before leaving)
No la enciendas hasta que estés listo(a) para cocinar (Don’t turn it on until you’re ready to cook)
La hornilla está muy caliente; cuidado (The burner is very hot; be careful)

Usage notes and nuances

Pay attention to word order for emphasis. Placing todavía before the verb slightly emphasizes ongoing action: Todavía está encendida may sound more immediate than Está todavía encendida. Both are correct.

Choose the noun based on regional preference. In Spain, cocina often refers to the cooktop; in many Latin American countries, estufa or hornilla are preferred. When in doubt, use la estufa, as it is widely understood.

Use polite forms with strangers or elders: Usted commands like Apague la estufa are respectful. With friends or family, tú forms like Apaga la estufa are natural.

Safety and cultural tips

In many Spanish-speaking households, it is common to call out reminders loudly if you notice a stove is on. Short, clear phrases help avoid accidents. When visiting homes, offering to check appliances is appreciated.

Be mindful of dialects: in some areas a gas stove might be referred to differently or people may mention the gas valve with words like la llave del gas. Knowing to say apaga la llave del gas can be useful in gas-related situations.

Safety example

Si hueles gas, sal de la casa y llama a emergencias; no enciendas ni apagues la luz (If you smell gas, leave the house and call emergency services; do not turn lights on or off)

Practice tip: natural intonation and emphasis

Native speakers often use rising or falling intonation to convey urgency. Practice saying short warnings with firm intonation for urgent contexts and softer intonation for polite reminders. Listening to native speakers and repeating will improve natural delivery.

When practicing, record yourself and compare with native pronunciation from reliable sources or language apps. Focus on verbs like apagar and adjectives like encendida so they become automatic in urgent situations.

Common mistakes to avoid

Do not confuse encender with encantado or other similar-sounding words. Also avoid literal translations from English that disrupt natural Spanish word order, such as saying La estufa on — instead use La estufa está encendida. Remember adjective agreement: encendida with feminine nouns like estufa, and encendido with masculine nouns like horno if you refer to an oven.

Extra phrases for nearby actions

Sometimes you need to tell someone to check a specific burner or to turn off multiple elements.

Apaga la hornilla de atrás (Turn off the back burner)
Revisa todas las hornillas por favor (Check all the burners please)
Apaga el horno también, por favor (Turn off the oven too, please)

Conclusion

Knowing how to say the stove is still on in Spanish gives you practical language that can prevent accidents and help in everyday life. Use La estufa sigue encendida or one of the alternatives depending on region and urgency, and pair the phrase with verbs like apagar for clear instructions. Practice variations and polite forms to feel confident in real situations.