cordero
neutral, Mexico
In Mexican Spanish "lamb" is cordero. In everyday Mexican speech many people also say borrego for the animal and the meat, as in barbacoa de borrego.
Meaning: young sheep and its meat (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| cordero | neutral, Mexico |
| borrego | everyday, Mexico |
In food, barbacoa in Mexico is usually lamb or goat cooked slowly, and menus often say borrego.
Which one should you use?
Cordero is the standard word for the young animal. Borrego is common in Mexico for sheep and for the meat.
Did you know?
- Barbacoa de borrego from Hidalgo is a traditional Sunday dish.
Examples in context
- Compramos cordero para la fiesta.We bought lamb for the party.
- Me gusta la barbacoa de borrego.I like lamb barbacoa.
Example conversation
Don Raúl orders at a food stand in Hidalgo.
- Don RaúlBuenos días, ¿tiene barbacoa?Good morning, do you have barbacoa?
- VendedoraSí, de borrego.Yes, lamb.
- Don RaúlPóngame medio kilo, por favor.Give me half a kilo, please.
