carne
everyday
The word for meat in Puerto Rico is carne. When someone says carne alone, they often mean beef. It is also called Carne de res and Carne molida.
Meaning: animal flesh used as food (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| carne | everyday |
| Carne de res | beef |
| Carne molida | ground meat |
To be exact, add the animal: carne de res for beef, carne de cerdo for pork and carne de pollo for chicken. Ground meat is carne molida.
Which one should you use?
Many Puerto Ricans use carne for red meat and say pollo for chicken without the word carne.
How does it change in a sentence?
Carne is a feminine noun, so it is la carne and carne fresca.
Did you know?
- Puerto Rican butchers and recipes use pounds (libras) for meat, not kilos.
Examples in context
- ¿Qué carne vas a comprar?What meat are you going to buy?
- Prefiero la carne bien cocida.I prefer the meat well done.
- Necesito carne molida para el pastelón.I need ground meat for the casserole.
Example conversation
Doña Carmen asks the butcher Ramón for meat at a market in Arecibo.
- CarmenBuenos días, Ramón. Necesito carne molida.Good morning, Ramón. I need ground meat.
- Ramón¿Cuánta, doña Carmen?How much, doña Carmen?
- CarmenDos libras, por favor.Two pounds, please.
