solomillo
/soloˈmiʝo/
The English phrase "sirloin steak" is solomillo in Spanish.
solomillo refers to a high-quality cut of beef taken from the tenderloin or the lower back of the cow. When you are ordering a specific steak prepared for eating, you might use the phrase filete de solomillo.
Which one should you use?
While solomillo refers to the cut of meat itself, filete de solomillo is often used to specify the actual steak prepared for a meal.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina and Uruguay, the term bife de chorizo is used for sirloin steak.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of solomillo is solomillos.
How do you pronounce it?
/soloˈmiʝo/
When do people say it?
When ordering your steak, you can specify the level of cooking: use bien hecho for well-done and a punto for medium.
Did you know?
- In Spain, solomillo can refer to both beef and pork, meaning you should specify de ternera for beef or de cerdo for pork to avoid confusion.
- While the suffix -illo often implies something small or affectionate, in the case of solomillo, it has become a fixed technical term for a specific anatomical part of the cow.
- The suffix -illo in solomillo stems from the Latin diminutive -ellus, a linguistic relative of many English words ending in 'let' or 'ling'.
Examples in context
- El solomillo es mi plato favorito.Sirloin steak is my favorite dish.
- Quiero un solomillo con patatas.I want a sirloin steak with potatoes.
- Este solomillo está muy tierno.This sirloin steak is very tender.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are choosing what to eat at a restaurant.
- Alejandro¿Qué vas a pedir, Elena?What are you going to order, Elena?
- ElenaCreo que pediré el solomillo.I think I will order the sirloin steak.
- AlejandroEs una excelente elección.It is an excellent choice.
- ElenaTú también deberías probarlo.You should try it too.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry solomillo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries solomillo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
