filete tierno
/filete tjeɾno/from spelling rules
In Spanish, the phrase for "tender steak" is filete tierno.
The phrase refers to a piece of steak that is soft and easy to chew.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of filete (steak/fillet) and tierno (tender/young).
Which one should you use?
While filete tierno is the standard description, you may encounter other variations. For example, filete jugoso is an informal way to describe a steak that is both tender and juicy and bife tiernito is an informal expression used to order a tender steak in certain regions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Regional terms are used depending on the location: in Argentina, you might use bife de lomo to describe a tender steak, while in Spain, solomillo de ternera is a common term for a tender beef steak.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, both the noun and the adjective must take the plural ending: filetes tiernos.
How do you pronounce it?
/filete tjeɾno/
Did you know?
- In Argentina, the most prestigious 'tender steak' is often a bife de chorizo, which translates to 'chorizo steak' but refers to the cut's shape and fat cap rather than the sausage.
- The word filete shares an unexpected history with the word 'thread'. It traces back to the Latin 'filum', meaning 'string' or 'thread', which is why it originally referred to a thin strip or filament of meat.
- While tierno describes the texture of the meat, the Spanish word tierno is also used to describe a 'tender' or sweet emotional moment, similar to 'tender' in English.
Examples in context
- Este filete está muy tierno.This steak is very tender.
- Este filete tierno está delicioso.This tender steak is delicious.
- El chef preparó un filete tierno.The chef prepared a tender steak.
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are eating at a restaurant.
- MateoPrueba esto, es un filete tierno.Try this, it is a tender steak.
- ElenaSe ve muy bien, Mateo.It looks very good, Mateo.
- MateoEstá muy suave y jugoso.It is very soft and juicy.
- ElenaAhora yo quiero un filete tierno también.Now I want a tender steak too.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries filete, tierno, CC BY-SA 4.0.
