aguja
/aˈɡuxa/
In Spanish, beef chuck is called aguja.
In a culinary context, aguja refers to the chuck cut of beef, named for its resemblance to a needle in terms of the muscle structure or shape in certain anatomical descriptions. While aguja is the specific cut, it is common to see it referred to as carne de aguja (meat of the chuck) on butcher labels or menus.
What does it mean word for word?
The word aguja literally means needle in English.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The formal term espaldilla de res is commonly used in Spain, Mexico and Central American countries.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈɡuxa/
Did you know?
- Because aguja means 'needle', the same word is used in Spanish to describe the hands of a clock and the needle of a compass.
- The Spanish word aguja comes from the Late Latin acūcula, which was a diminutive form meaning 'little needle'.
- The word aguja is a linguistic cousin to the Sicilian word agugghia, reflecting how agricultural and culinary terms traveled across the Mediterranean.
Examples in context
- Me gustaría comprar una espaldilla de res para la cena de esta noche.I would like to buy a beef chuck for tonight's dinner.
- Te recomiendo cocinar una espaldilla de ternera al horno, queda muy tierna.I recommend cooking a beef chuck in the oven, it turns out very tender.
- Vamos a hacer un guiso con espaldilla de res.We are going to make a stew with beef chuck.
- Voy a preparar un guiso de espaldilla de res con papas y zanahorias.I'm going to make a beef chuck stew with potatoes and carrots.
- A mí me gusta asar la espaldilla de ternera hasta que esté bien dorada por fuera pero jugosa por dentro.I like to grill beef chuck until it is well browned on the outside but juicy on the inside.
- Necesito comprar aguja para el guiso.I need to buy beef chuck for the stew.
- La aguja es ideal para cocinar a fuego lento.Beef chuck is ideal for slow cooking.
- Esa pieza de aguja tiene mucha grasa.That piece of beef chuck has a lot of fat.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are at the butcher shop.
- Alejandro¿Tiene aguja fresca hoy?Do you have fresh beef chuck today?
- LucíaSí, tenemos la mejor aguja de la zona.Yes, we have the best beef chuck in the area.
- AlejandroPerfecto, deme un kilo de aguja, por favor.Perfect, give me one kilo of beef chuck, please.
- LucíaMuy bien, aquí tiene su pedido.Very well, here is your order.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry aguja, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aguja, CC BY-SA 4.0.
