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carnicería

kar-nee-seh-REE-ah/kaɾniθeˈɾia/

“carnicería” means “butcher shop” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

butcher shop

Also: meat market
NounfA1
A friendly butcher shop window displaying various cuts of fresh meat on clean trays.

📝 In Action

Voy a la carnicería a comprar tres chuletas de cerdo.

A1

I'm going to the butcher shop to buy three pork chops.

Mi tío trabaja en una carnicería desde hace diez años.

A2

My uncle has worked in a butcher shop for ten years.

La carnicería de la esquina tiene la mejor carne de la ciudad.

B1

The butcher shop on the corner has the best meat in town.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • abacería (grocery store (old fashioned))

Antonyms

  • verdulería (greengrocer/vegetable shop)

Common Collocations

  • carnicería de barrio – local/neighborhood butcher shop
  • ir a la carnicería – to go to the butcher shop

carnage

Also: shambles
NounfB2
A messy scene of tipped over fruit crates and scattered vegetables in a marketplace.

📝 In Action

La batalla fue una auténtica carnicería.

B2

The battle was a total carnage.

El cirujano hizo una carnicería con esa operación.

C1

The surgeon made a total mess of that operation.

No quiero ver la película porque dicen que es una carnicería constante.

B2

I don't want to see the movie because they say it's constant slaughter.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • una carnicería humana – a human slaughter
  • evitar una carnicería – to avoid a bloodbath

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "carnicería" in Spanish:

butcher shop→meat market→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: carnicería

Question 1 of 3

¿Dónde compras chuletas de cerdo?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
carne(meat) — Noun
carnicero(butcher) — Noun
cárnico(meat-related) — Adjective
encarnado(flesh-colored / embodied) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
panaderíaalegríadía
📚 Etymology▼

From the Spanish word 'carnicero' (butcher), which comes from the Latin 'carnis' meaning 'flesh' or 'meat'. The suffix '-ería' was added to denote a place of trade.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: carniceiraItalian: carnezzeria

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'carnicería' only for red meat?

No, it is a general term for any shop that sells fresh meat, including poultry, pork, and beef.

What is the difference between 'carne' and 'carnicería'?

'Carne' is the food (meat) that you eat. 'Carnicería' is the physical store where you go to buy that food.

Is it used the same way in all Spanish-speaking countries?

Yes, 'carnicería' is the standard term for a butcher shop across Spain and Latin America.