carne tierna
/kaɾne tjeɾna/from spelling rules
In Spanish, the phrase for "tender meat" is carne tierna.
The phrase carne tierna is used to describe meat that is soft and easy to chew. If you want to describe the opposite, meat that is tough or difficult to chew, use carne dura.
What does it mean word for word?
The word carne means "meat" and tierna means "tender" or "soft".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the word suave may be used instead of tierna to describe tender meat.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because carne is a feminine singular noun, the adjective tierna must also be used in its feminine singular form.
How do you pronounce it?
/kaɾne tjeɾna/
Did you know?
- The adjective tierna is used to describe young plants or shoots that have just begun to grow, rather than just food.
- The word carne shares an ancestral root with the English word 'carnal', which relates to the flesh or the physical body.
- While carne dura means 'tough meat', the word dura can also mean 'hard' as in a physical object or 'strict' when describing a person's character.
Examples in context
- Este filete está delicioso, la carne está muy tierna.This steak is delicious, the meat is very tender.
- El cordero asado es exquisito, su carne es suculenta y tierna.The roasted lamb is exquisite, its meat is succulent and tender.
- ¡Mira, tengo asado de pollo! Esta carne está tiernita, pruébala.Look, I have grilled chicken! This meat is tender, give it a try.
- Hoy hice unos bistecs a la parrilla, están muy jugosos y tiernos. ¡Disfrútalos!Today I grilled some steaks, they are very juicy and tender. Enjoy!
- Esta carne está muy tierna.This meat is very tender.
- Esta carne tierna es deliciosa.This tender meat is delicious.
- Prefiero la carne tierna de este corte.I prefer the tender meat from this cut.
- El chef cocina la carne tierna perfectamente.The chef cooks the tender meat perfectly.
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are eating dinner together.
- LucíaPrueba el bistec, Javier.Try the steak, Javier.
- JavierWow, es una carne tierna.Wow, it is a tender meat.
- LucíaMe alegra que te guste.I am glad you like it.
- JavierEstá perfecta, Lucía.It is perfect, Lucía.
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.
