būbula
feminine
The English phrase "beef" is translated into Latin as būbula.
Meaning: meat (noun)
Which one should you use?
While būbula is the standard form provided, there are formal alternatives. Caro bovina and Caro bovis can also be used. The latter specifically emphasizes the meat of a cow.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form būbula is a feminine noun.
Did you know?
- In Roman sacrificial rituals, the 'viscera' of the bos were examined by haruspices to predict the future, meaning beef was associated with divine communication before it was food.
- Unlike modern English which has different words for the animal 'cow' and the food 'beef', Latin used the same root bov- for both the creature and its meat.
- The word bovinus, used in caro bovina, is the direct ancestor of the English word 'bovine'. It functions as an adjective to categorize the meat by its species.
Example sentences for Latin are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Lucius and Aurelia are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- LuciusQuid edemus hodie, Aurelia?What are we eating today, Aurelia?
- AureliaBūbulam coquere possum.I can cook beef.
- LuciusId mihi placet.That pleases me.
- AureliaOptime, mox erit parata.Great, it will be ready soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beef” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
