hacha de carnicero
/at͡ʃa de kaɾniθeɾo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "meat cleaver" is translated into Spanish as hacha de carnicero.
A hacha de carnicero refers to a large, heavy knife with a broad blade used by butchers to cut through bone and meat.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of hacha (axe) and de carnicero (of a butcher).
How do you pronounce it?
/atʃa de kaɾniθeɾo/
Did you know?
- The word hacha is grammatically feminine, but when it is singular and used without an article, speakers use the masculine article el instead of la to avoid a clashing sound.
- The root of carnicero comes from the Latin carō, which means 'flesh'. This same root is found in English words like 'carnivore' and 'incarnation'.
- In Spanish, the word hacha is used for both a wood-cutting axe and a meat cleaver, as the tool is viewed as a specialized version of the same implement.
Examples in context
- Necesito un hacha de carnicero para este hueso.I need a meat cleaver for this bone.
- Ten cuidado con ese hacha de carnicero.Be careful with that meat cleaver.
Example conversation
In a kitchen while preparing a large meal.
- Elena¿Dónde está el hacha de carnicero, Mateo?Where is the meat cleaver, Mateo?
- MateoEstá en el cajón de la cocina.It is in the kitchen drawer.
- ElenaGracias, lo necesito para cortar la carne.Thanks, I need it to cut the meat.
- MateoTen mucho cuidado al usarlo, Elena.Be very careful when using it, Elena.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries carnicero, de, hacha, CC BY-SA 4.0.
