carne mechada
/kaɾne met͡ʃada/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'pot roast' is translated into Spanish as carne mechada.
This term refers to a slow-cooked beef dish.
Meaning: slow-cooked beef dish (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
carne mechada is the standard way to refer to this style of slow-cooked, shredded beef in Venezuela, Colombia and several Central American countries.
How do you pronounce it?
/kaɾne metʃada/
Did you know?
- The word mechada comes from mechar, which means to lace or spike. This refers to the traditional technique of inserting strips of vegetables or garlic into the meat using a skewer before cooking.
- The Spanish word carne is a direct descendant of the Latin carnem, which is the same root used for the English word 'carnival'.
- In Venezuela, carne mechada is a core ingredient of the pabellón criollo, the national dish that combines shredded beef with black beans, white rice and fried plantains.
Examples in context
- Mis abuelos siempre preparaban un estofado de carne delicioso.My grandparents used to cook a delicious pot roast.
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- SofíaDaniel, ¿qué quieres cenar hoy?Daniel, what do you want for dinner today?
- DanielMe gustaría comer carne mechada.I would like to eat pot roast.
- SofíaPerfecto, yo puedo cocinarla.Perfect, I can cook it.
- Daniel¡Gracias, Sofía! Me encanta ese plato.Thanks, Sofía! I love that dish.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries carne, CC BY-SA 4.0.
