bien cocida
/bjen koθida/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'well done meat' is translated into Spanish as bien cocida.
The phrase is used to describe meat that has been cooked thoroughly throughout. In a restaurant setting, you can specify your preference by saying la carne, bien cocida, por favor. To emphasize a strong preference for meat that is cooked through, you can use the phrases muy bien cocida or muy cocida.
Which one should you use?
While bien cocida refers to well done meat, if you want to request meat cooked to a medium temperature, use the phrase término medio.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you may also hear the phrases Muy hecha or Bien hecha to mean 'well cooked'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the feminine form cocida because the word for meat, la carne, is feminine in Spanish. If you are referring to a masculine noun like el filete (the steak) instead of la carne, you must use the masculine form bien cocido.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, ordering meat bien cocida can be seen as an unusual or even 'incorrect' way to eat high-quality beef, as it is believed to destroy the flavor and texture of the meat.
- In Spain, using hecha (from the verb 'to make') instead of cocida to describe well-done meat suggests the meat is 'finished' or 'complete' rather than just cooked.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, you might hear a waiter ask for the 'término' of your meat, which literally translates to 'term' or 'end point'.
Examples in context
- Quisiera la carne bien cocida, por favor.I would like the meat well done, please.
- Quiero mi carne bien pasada, gracias.I want my meat well done, thank you.
- Camarero, quisiera la carne bien cocida, por favor.Waiter, I would like the meat well done, please.
- ¡Me gusta la carne bien cocinada!I like my meat well cooked.
- Prefiero la carne bien cocida.I prefer the meat well done.
- La hamburguesa debe estar bien cocida.The hamburger must be well done.
- Ella pidió la carne bien cocida.She ordered the meat well done.
Example conversation
At a restaurant, the waiter is taking a food order.
- Javier¿Cómo desea su carne, María?How do you want your meat, María?
- MaríaLa quiero bien cocida, por favor.I want it well done, please.
- JavierMuy bien, la carne estará bien cocida.Very well, the meat will be well done.
- MaríaMuchas gracias, Javier.Thank you very much, Javier.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
