Spanish · Food & Drink
"Meat" in Spanish: carne
la carne
Meat is la carne (KAR-neh), a feminine noun: la carne asada, un poco de carne. Beef is often carne de res; pork is carne de cerdo. On menus carne alone usually means the red-meat option.
Ordering tacos
Tres tacos de carne asada, por favor.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce carne
Say it
KAR-neh
/ˈkaɾ.ne/
KAR-neh, stress on KAR. Soft c is not used here—the c is hard like k. The final e is a short eh, not silent.
"Meat" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la carne | meat Meat in general; often beef on simple menus. | Meat in general; often beef on simple menus. |
| la carne asada | grilled meat / grilled beef A classic cookout and taco filling. | A classic cookout and taco filling. |
| la carne de res | beef Clears up that you mean cow, not pork. | Clears up that you mean cow, not pork. |
| sin carne | without meat Vegetarian customizations. | Vegetarian customizations. |
| el puesto de carnes | butcher stall / meat counter Market shopping. | Market shopping. |
How to use carne in real life
- 1Ordering tacos
Tres tacos de carne asada, por favor.
Three grilled-beef tacos, please.
Carne asada is a standard taco filling name.
- 2At a butcher
¿Tiene carne molida?
Do you have ground meat?
Carne molida is ground beef in many countries.
- 3Dietary request
Sin carne, solo verduras, por favor.
No meat, just vegetables, please.
A clear, polite plate request.
Mistakes English speakers make with carne
Incorrect: El carne está dura.
Correct: La carne está dura.
Carne is feminine. Use la carne, esta carne, carne jugosa.
Incorrect: No como meat.
Correct: No como carne.
Keep carne in Spanish. For "I'm vegetarian," soy vegetariano/a is clearer.
Good to know
Carne asada is both a dish and a social event—weekend grilling with family in Mexico and the US Southwest border region. In Argentina and Uruguay asado culture is especially central, with many cuts named carefully. Saying sin carne is widely understood; for full vegetarian clarity add solo verduras or soy vegetariano/a.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Ordering at a casual grill
ChatPal
Hoy la carne asada está jugosa.
Today the grilled meat is juicy.
You
Quiero carne con salsa verde.
I want meat with green salsa.
ChatPal
¿La carne en taco o en plato?
Meat in a taco or on a plate?
You
En plato, poca carne.
On a plate, not too much meat.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Meat" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Meat" in Spanish
Is carne masculine or feminine?
Feminine: la carne, mucha carne, carne roja.
Does carne always mean beef?
It means meat in general. On simple menus it often implies beef; say carne de cerdo or pollo when you need to be specific.
How do I say I'm vegetarian?
Soy vegetariano (or vegetariana). You can also order sin carne.
How do you pronounce carne?
KAR-neh with a tapped r and a clear final eh.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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