poco hecha
/poko et͡ʃa/from spelling rules
The Spanish phrase for rare meat is poco hecha.
poco hecha is used to describe meat that has been cooked for a short time and remains red in the center. If you wish to specify that the meat is very rare, you can add muy to the phrase to say muy poco hecha.
Which one should you use?
If you want your meat cooked to a medium level rather than rare, use término medio instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase poco hecha is feminine to agree with the feminine noun carne (meat).
Did you know?
- If you want your steak to be extremely rare, you can use the word sangrante. This describes the meat as 'bleeding', referring to the red juices that emerge from the center.
- In Argentina, you are more likely to hear the word jugosa to describe rare meat. This shifts the focus from how little the meat was cooked to its 'juicy' texture.
- When ordering, a waiter might ask for the punto of your meat. While this literally translates to 'point', it refers to the specific stage or level of doneness you desire.
Examples in context
- Me gustaría mi carne poco cocida, por favor.I would like my meat rare, please.
- ¿Podrías hacerme el filete poco hecho, por favor?Could you cook the steak rare for me, please?
- Me gustaría una carne muy poco cocida.I would like the meat very rare.
- ¿Podrías hacer la hamburguesa poco hecha?Could you cook the burger rare?
- ¿Qué significa 'poco hecho' en este contexto?What does 'rare' mean in this context?
- Quiero la carne poco hecha, por favor.I want the meat rare, please.
- Me gusta la carne poco hecha.I like my meat rare.
- ¿Prefieres la carne poco hecha o bien cocida?Do you prefer your meat rare or well done?
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are ordering dinner at a steakhouse.
- ElenaAlejandro, ¿cómo quieres tu carne?Alejandro, how do you want your meat?
- AlejandroLa quiero poco hecha, Elena.I want it rare, Elena.
- ElenaA mí me gusta más al punto.I like mine medium.
- AlejandroEstá bien, pidamos así.That's fine, let's order it that way.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
