rabo de toro
/rabo de toɾo/from spelling rulesmasculine
Oxtail in Spanish is rabo de toro.
The term rabo de toro is the standard way to refer to both the specific cut of meat and the popular Spanish stew made from it.
Meaning: meat from the tail of a cow (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of rabo (tail), de (of) and toro (bull/ox).
Which one should you use?
While rabo de toro is the most common culinary term, you may also see rabo de res used to refer to the meat specifically from a cow or steer.
How do you pronounce it?
/rabo de toɾo/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word rabo actually derives from the Latin word rāpum, which means 'turnip'.
- In Spanish, rabo is the correct term for animal tails, but using it to describe a person's backside is considered vulgar.
- Traditional rabo de toro is often slow-cooked in a clay pot called a cazuela to achieve its signature gelatinous texture.
Examples in context
- Me gustaría ordenar el rabo de buey, por favor.I would like to order the oxtail, please.
- En el menú del restaurante figuran varias opciones con cola de buey.The restaurant menu offers various options with oxtail.
- ¿Has probado alguna vez el rabo de toro? Es una delicia.Have you ever tried oxtail? It's delicious.
- El rabo de toro es delicioso.The oxtail is delicious.
- Quiero comer rabo de toro hoy.I want to eat oxtail today.
- Preparé un guiso de rabo de toro.I prepared an oxtail stew.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are looking at a restaurant menu.
- Alejandro¿Qué me recomiendas para cenar?What do you recommend for dinner?
- ElenaEl rabo de toro de este lugar es excelente.The oxtail from this place is excellent.
- AlejandroPerfecto, pediré el rabo de toro entonces.Perfect, I will order the oxtail then.
- ElenaTe va a encantar, Alejandro.You are going to love it, Alejandro.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “oxtail” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, rabo, toro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
