Whether you’re visiting a Portuguese-speaking country or simply trying to impress your Portuguese friends, knowing how to order your steak cooked to your liking is essential. If you prefer your steak cooked to a juicy, yet slightly pink center, you’re likely looking for the term “medium well.” In this guide, we’ll explore how to say “medium well” in Portuguese, covering both formal and informal ways of conveying your preference.
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Formal Expressions
When dining in a formal setting or speaking to someone in a formal context, it’s important to use polite expressions. Here are some formal ways to ask for a medium-well steak:
1. “Grelhado no ponto médio”
This expression translates to “grilled to medium point” and is commonly used to convey a medium well preference to the waiter or chef. Remember to pronounce “Grelhado” as “greh-yah-doo” and emphasize the “i” in “ponto médio.”
2. “Grelhado entre médio e bem passado”
If you want to be more specific about the doneness of your steak, you can use this expression which means “grilled between medium and well done.” It ensures your steak is closer to medium well while still avoiding any pinkness in the center. Pronounce “Grelhado” as “greh-yah-doo” and carefully emphasize each word in the phrase for clarity.
Informal Expressions
If you’re in a casual setting or speaking to friends, family, or locals, you can use more relaxed and colloquial expressions to convey your preference for a medium well steak:
1. “Meio passado”
Literally translating to “half-cooked,” “meio passado” is a common informal term used to order a medium well steak. Pronounce “Meio” as “may-oo” and slightly emphasize the “o” in “passado” for proper pronunciation.
2. “Ponto para bem passado”
Another way to request medium well is to ask for it “ponto para bem passado,” meaning “point closer to well done.” This expression works well in informal settings and ensures your steak is cooked to your desired level of doneness while avoiding any dryness. Proper pronunciation includes emphasizing the “o” in “ponto” and pronouncing “passado” as “pah-sah-doo.”
Regional Variations
Portuguese is spoken worldwide, with some regional variations. While the expressions mentioned above will be understood in most Portuguese-speaking countries, there might be slight differences in local terminology. Here are a few examples:
1. Brazil
In Brazil, you can use the expressions mentioned earlier, but it’s worth noting that “ao ponto” is also commonly used to indicate medium well. For instance, you can say “Bem passado ou ao ponto” when asked about your preference, meaning “Well done or medium well.” Pronounce “ao ponto” as “ow pohn-toh” to ensure clarity.
2. Portugal
In Portugal, the expressions mentioned earlier will work perfectly fine. However, if you’d like to try a local phrase, you can say “Meio para o bem,” which translates to “halfway to well done.” Pronounce “Meio para o bem” as “may-oo pah-rah oh behm” for proper pronunciation.
Tip: When in doubt, it’s always helpful to ask the waiter or a local for the most commonly used term to convey medium well. They’ll be happy to assist you and appreciate your effort to speak their language!
Examples of Use
To help you better understand these expressions in context, here are a few example sentences:
- Formal: “Eu gostaria de um bife grelhado no ponto médio, por favor.” (I would like a grilled steak medium well, please.)
- Informal: “Vou querer meu bife meio passado.” (I’ll have my steak medium well.)
- Brazilian Variation: “Pode ser um bife bem passado ou ao ponto?” (Can I have a well-done or medium-well steak?)
- Portuguese Variation: “Gostava de um bife meio para o bem, se faz favor.” (I would like a steak halfway to well done, please.)
Remember, practice makes perfect! Try using these expressions when ordering your steak, and you’ll impress both the locals and the culinary staff with your Portuguese skills.
