carne
/ˈkaɾne/
The Spanish word carne means meat.
In a culinary context, carne refers specifically to meat. However, it can also mean flesh in a biological or anatomical sense. You can specify the type of meat by adding the animal's name, such as carne de res for beef (meat of ox/cow) or carne de cerdo for pork (meat of pig).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, carne vacuna is commonly used to refer to beef. In Colombia, carne de res is often used for beef, while in Peru, carne de vacuno is typically used to refer to beef.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun carne is feminine and requires the feminine article la when used in the singular, as in la carne.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkaɾne/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word carne can also be used in the phrase carne de cañón, which translates to 'cannon fodder' to describe people who are easily sacrificed for a cause.
- In certain contexts, carne is used to refer to the pulp of a fruit, such as the 'flesh' of a mango.
- The word carne shares a common ancestor with the English word 'carnal', which relates to physical or worldly desires rather than spiritual ones.
Examples in context
- El restaurante sirve deliciosas carnes a la parrilla.The restaurant serves delicious grilled meats.
- Mi plato favorito es el asado de carne de res.My favorite dish is beef roast.
- Vamos a hacer una carne asada el fin de semana.Let's have a barbecue this weekend.
- Necesito comprar carne picada para hacer las albóndigas.I need to buy ground beef to make meatballs.
- La carne guisada de mi abuela es la mejor.My grandmother's stewed meat is the best.
- No como carne porque soy vegetariana.I do not eat meat because I am a vegetarian.
- Esta carne está muy tierna.This meat is very tender.
- ¿Quieres carne o pollo en el sándwich?Do you want meat or chicken in the sandwich?
Example conversation
A couple is deciding what to cook for dinner.
- DanielElena, ¿compraste la carne para la cena?Elena, did you buy the meat for dinner?
- ElenaSí, Daniel, compré un poco de carne de res.Yes, Daniel, I bought some beef.
- DanielPerfecto, entonces la prepararé en la parrilla.Perfect, then I will prepare it on the grill.
- ElenaMe parece muy bien.That sounds great to me.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry carne, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries carne, CC BY-SA 4.0.
