carne oscura
/kaɾne oskuɾa/from spelling rules
In Spanish, the phrase for dark meat is carne oscura.
The term carne oscura refers to the meat from the legs and thighs of a bird, which has a darker color compared to the breast meat.
Which one should you use?
When discussing poultry, carne oscura is used to contrast with carne blanca (white meat).
How do you pronounce it?
/kaɾne oskuɾa/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the 'dark meat' of the chicken is considered more flavorful and is often the preferred choice for traditional stews and rice dishes.
- The word carne is a direct relative of the English word 'carnal', which refers to things related to the body or physical desires.
- While carne oscura is a literal translation, if you are at a butcher in many Spanish-speaking countries, you are more likely to hear people simply ask for muslos (thighs) or piernas (legs) rather than describing the meat color.
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are deciding what to order for dinner.
- DanielLucía, ¿quieres pechuga o carne oscura?Lucía, do you want breast or dark meat?
- LucíaMe gusta más la carne oscura.I like dark meat more.
- DanielYo también, pediré los muslos.Me too, I will order the thighs.
- LucíaPerfecto, pidamos dos porciones.Perfect, let's order two servings.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries carne, CC BY-SA 4.0.
