carne
“carne” means “meat” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
meat
Also: beef
📝 In Action
No como carne, soy vegetariano.
A1I don't eat meat, I'm a vegetarian.
Voy a comprar un kilo de carne molida para las hamburguesas.
A2I'm going to buy a kilo of ground meat for the hamburgers.
Este restaurante es famoso por sus carnes a la parrilla.
B1This restaurant is famous for its grilled meats.
flesh
📝 In Action
El médico dijo que la herida solo afectó la carne, no el hueso.
B2The doctor said the wound only affected the flesh, not the bone.
Por fin conocí en carne y hueso al autor de mi libro favorito.
B1I finally met the author of my favorite book in the flesh.
flesh, pulp
📝 In Action
La carne de este aguacate está perfectamente madura.
B1The flesh of this avocado is perfectly ripe.
Separa la carne de la sandía de la cáscara y las semillas.
B2Separate the flesh of the watermelon from the rind and the seeds.
the flesh
Also: worldliness
📝 In Action
La lucha entre el espíritu y la carne es un tema central en su obra.
C1The struggle between the spirit and the flesh is a central theme in his work.
Ceder a las tentaciones de la carne.
C1To give in to the temptations of the flesh.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: carne
Question 1 of 2
If a friend says they are 'uña y carne' with someone, what do they mean?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word 'caro, carnis', which meant 'flesh' or 'meat'. It's an ancient word that has kept its core meaning for thousands of years, forming the basis for related English words like 'carnivore' and 'carnal'.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'carne' feminine if it ends in '-e'?
Spanish has many nouns that don't follow the typical '-o for masculine, -a for feminine' rule. 'Carne' is one of them. You just have to learn it as a set phrase: 'la carne'. This often happens with words that came from feminine Latin nouns, like 'la noche' (night) or 'la gente' (people).
What's the difference between 'carne' and 'bistec'?
'Carne' is the general word for 'meat'. 'Bistec' is a much more specific word that means 'steak', which is a particular cut of meat, usually beef. So, a 'bistec' is a type of 'carne'.