carne de puerco
everyday, Mexico
In Mexican Spanish "pork" is carne de puerco in everyday speech and carne de cerdo in the neutral standard form. Shop labels often just say cerdo.
Meaning: meat from a pig (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| carne de puerco | everyday, Mexico |
| carne de cerdo | neutral |
| cerdo | short |
Carne de puerco is what people ask for at the butcher's or order in a stew. Typical dishes are carnitas, chicharrón for fried pork rind and cochinita pibil from Yucatán.
Which one should you use?
English uses different words for the animal and its meat. Spanish uses the same word, so puerco is both the pig and pork.
Did you know?
- Michoacán is famous for carnitas, which are slow-cooked pork.
Examples in context
- Quiero medio kilo de carne de puerco.I want half a kilo of pork.
- No como cerdo.I do not eat pork.
- Las carnitas son de puerco.Carnitas are made of pork.
Example conversation
Don Alfredo sells meat at a market stall in Michoacán, and Teresa buys for a family party.
- TeresaBuenos días, necesito tres kilos de carne de puerco.Good morning, I need three kilos of pork.
- Don Alfredo¿Para carnitas?For carnitas?
- TeresaSí, con algo de maciza.Yes, with some lean meat.
