coda di bue
/ˈko.da di ˈbu.e/word by wordfeminine
The English phrase oxtail is translated into Italian as coda di bue.
coda di bue is used to refer to both the anatomical part of the animal and the specific cut of meat used in cooking.
Meaning: meat from the tail of a cow (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of coda (tail), di (of) and bue (ox/bull).
Which one should you use?
While coda di bue is the general term for the meat, when you are referring specifically to the famous Roman dish made with oxtail, it is more common to use coda alla vaccinara.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables. The stress is on the 1st syllable: /ˈko.da di ˈbu.e/.
Did you know?
- The Roman dish coda alla vaccinara originates from the 'vaccinari', who were the historical cattle slaughterers of the Testaccio district.
- If you are waiting for a table in Italy, you are not just waiting in a line, you are fare la coda, which translates to 'making a tail'.
- The word coda is used in Italian musical terminology to describe a concluding passage that extends the end of a piece of music.
Examples in context
- La coda di bue è molto tenera.The oxtail is very tender.
- Ho cucinato una coda di bue al vino rosso.I cooked an oxtail in red wine.
- Vuoi provare la coda di bue stufata?Do you want to try the stewed oxtail?
Example conversation
Martina and Lorenzo are choosing what to cook for dinner.
- MartinaLorenzo, compriamo una coda di bue oggi?Lorenzo, shall we buy an oxtail today?
- LorenzoSì, è ottima per fare un ragù.Yes, it is great for making a ragu.
- MartinaPreferisco la coda di bue in umido.I prefer the oxtail in a stew.
- LorenzoVa bene, facciamo quella versione allora.Alright, let's make that version then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “oxtail” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (coda, di, bue) and can differ in connected speech.
