carne
/ˈkaʁ.ni/feminine
The English word meat is translated to Portuguese as carne.
carne refers to animal flesh used as food, but it is also used to describe the biological flesh of a living organism. While carne is the general term, you can specify the type of meat by using the animal's name, such as carne de vaca for beef, frango for chicken, porco for pork or peixe for fish.
Meaning: animal flesh used as food (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
carne is a feminine noun. Consequently, any accompanying articles or adjectives must also be feminine, such as a carne (the meat) or carne fresca (fresh meat).
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈkaʁ.ni/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word carne shares an ancient root with the English word 'cut', stemming from the Proto-Indo-European reconstruction *(s)ker- which means 'to cut off'.
- The term 'carne' is used in the expression 'carne e unha' to describe two things that are inseparable or very similar, much like 'two peas in a pod'.
- The word 'carniceiro' refers to a butcher, but it is also used as a harsh insult for someone who is considered a scavenger or a person of low character.
Examples in context
- Isto é carne boa.This is good meat.This sentence is useful for identifying the quality of carne.Tatoeba #1189984 by alexmarcelo, translation #57556 by CK
- A carne está boa?Is the meat good?This sentence is useful for asking if the carne is good.Tatoeba #5021906 by bill, translation #3041970 by ApAdAnA
- Eu só como carne.I only eat meat.This sentence is useful for stating a dietary preference regarding carne.Tatoeba #5969824 by bill, translation #5964464 by mailohilohi
- Gostaria de pedir um prato de carne, por favor.I would like to order a meat dish, please.
- Prefiro carne de vaca em vez de carne de porco.I prefer beef over pork.
- Minha família gosta de comer carne vermelha no almoço de domingo.My family likes to eat red meat for Sunday lunch.
- O churrasco de carne está maravilhoso!The meat barbecue is amazing!
- Vou fazer uma lasanha com carninha picada.I'm going to make a lasagna with minced meat.
- 320 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felipe and Juliana are deciding what to cook for dinner.
- FelipeVocê quer comer carne hoje?Do you want to eat meat today?
- JulianaNão, eu prefiro peixe.No, I prefer fish.
- FelipeEu comprei carne de porco ontem.I bought pork yesterday.
- JulianaTudo bem, podemos usar a carne.Alright, we can use the meat.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “meat” translations and entries carne, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries carne, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
