filete
/fee-LEH-teh/
steak
In Spanish, 'filete' often refers to a cut of meat or a steak.
filete(noun)
steak
?a slice of meat
,fillet
?a boneless piece of fish or meat
slice
?a thin cut of food
๐ In Action
He comprado cuatro filetes de ternera para la cena.
A1I bought four beef steaks for dinner.
ยฟPrefieres un filete de pescado o de pollo?
A1Do you prefer a fish fillet or a chicken breast?
El carnicero cortรณ el filete muy fino.
B1The butcher cut the steak very thin.
๐ก Grammar Points
Using 'de' with filete
When you want to say what kind of meat or fish it is, always use 'de' (of). For example: 'filete de merluza' (hake fillet).
โ Common Pitfalls
Filete vs. Bistec
Mistake: "Using 'bistec' for fish."
Correction: Use 'filete' for both meat and fish; 'bistec' is only for beef.
โญ Usage Tips
Ordering at a restaurant
If you want your steak cooked a certain way, add 'muy hecho' (well done), 'al punto' (medium), or 'poco hecho' (rare) after the word 'filete'.
The word 'filete' can also describe a thin decorative line or border.
filete(noun)
border
?a thin decorative line
,piping
?decorative cord on clothing or furniture
thread
?the spiral ridge on a screw
,welt
?a strip of leather in shoemaking
๐ In Action
La portada del libro tiene un filete de oro.
B2The book cover has a gold border.
El sofรก tiene un filete blanco que resalta el color azul.
C1The sofa has white piping that highlights the blue color.
๐ก Grammar Points
Abstract use
Think of this meaning as a 'thin strip' of something, which helps connect it to the food meaning (a thin strip of meat).
โญ Usage Tips
Art History Tip
In Argentina, 'fileteado' is a famous style of artistic drawing with flowing lines and borders found on buses and signs.
โ๏ธ Quick Practice
๐ก Quick Quiz: filete
Question 1 of 2
If you are in a restaurant and want to order a piece of fish, which word should you use?
๐ More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'filete' the same as 'carne'?
No. 'Carne' is the general word for meat. 'Filete' refers specifically to the cut or slice.
What does 'filetear' mean?
It is the verb meaning 'to cut into fillets' or 'to slice thinly'.