Talk About Bacon In Spanish (and Other Meaty Favorites)

April 12, 2021 by Mar Z. Luna Spanish Vocabulary 0 comments Talk About Bacon in Spanish (and Other Meaty Favorites)

Talking about bacon in Spanish or any other kind of meat is common to hear in Spanish-speaking countries. People love eating meat as much as they do anything else. It’s a flavorful food group that you can find in any kind of restaurant.

in Latin America and Spain, getting together to eat is not only about delicious food but also cooking together and celebrating. Latin Americans and Spaniards consume all sorts of meaty flavors prepared in various ways, such as grilled or a la parrillada.

Not eating meat can be a bit challenging so it’s best to embrace the culture and get a taste of the different kinds of meat when you’re traveling. Try cooking famous flavorful dishes such as carne asada or pollo asado. Cooking is a great way to practice your Spanish skills and eat a delicious meal in the process. 

How to Talk About Bacon and Other Meat

The most common way to say bacon in Spanish is tocino, but the words tocineta, beicon, and pancetta also translate to bacon.

It’s a savory and greasy food that people love to add to their favorite meals. Bacon is an ingredient in crema de frijol con tocino and on hot dogs. 

Bacon in Spanish and Other Meat Vocabulary

El tocino – Bacon

La carne de res – Beef

El cordero – Lamb

El cerdo – Pork

El tocino o la panceta – Bacon

La ternera – Veal

El bistec – Beefsteak

La carne molida – Ground beef

Las costillas – Ribs

Las chuletas – Pork chops

El hígado – Liver

El jamón – Ham

La lengua – Tongue

El lomo – Steak

Las longanizas – Sausages

La pierna de cordero – Leg of lamb

Los riñones – Kidneys

Las salchichas – Hot dogs or sausages

Las tripas – Tripe

El filete – Fillet

El estofado – Pot roast

El chicharrón – Pork rind

Bacon in Spanish

Food preparation

A la plancha – Grilled

A la parrilla – Barbecue

Asado – Broiled

Rostizado – Roasted

Horneado – Baked

Empanizado o apanado – Breaded

Example Conversation

Maria: ¿Estás cocinando tacos de res?Antonio: No, en realidad no.Maria: ¿Qué estás cocinando entonces?Antonio: Estoy cocinando tacos de pollo con tocino. Maria: Se ve delicioso.Antonio: Gracias. ¿Quieres ayudarme?Maria: Por supuesto. Antonio: Pon a freír el pollo con la cebolla y el tocino. Maria: Claro. ¿Algo más?Antonio: Eso es todo. Pronto estará listo. 

Maria: Are you cooking beef tacos?Antonio: No, not really. Maria: What are you cooking then?Antonio: I’m cooking chicken tacos with bacon. Maria: It looks delicious. Antonio: Thanks. Would you like to help?Maria: Of course. Antonio: Fry the chicken with the onion and bacon. Maria: Sure. Anything else?Antonio: That’s all. It’ll be ready soon. 

How to Order Meat at a Restaurant

When ordering bacon in Spanish or any meat at a restaurant, it’s important to know how to ask for your steak rare, medium rare, or well-done.

Rare is roja. Medium rare is termino medio. Well-done is bien asada or bien cocida. Tres cuartos is when you want your meat between medium rare and well-done.

Here are some phrases that you’ll hear in a restaurant:

¿Qué le gustaría de beber?What would you like to drink?

¿Cómo le gustaría su carne?How would you like your steak?

¿Qué hay en el menú?What’s on the menu?

¿Están listos para ordenar?Are you ready to order

Todavía no estamos listos.We’re not ready yet.

Yo prefiero el bistec bien asado.I prefer the steak well-done.

Yo quisiera el sándwich con jamón.I would like the ham sandwich.

Yo voy a querer lo mismo.I’ll have the same.

Necesito un cuchillo de sierra para la carne.I need a steak knife for my steak.

How to Order Meat at a Butcher Shop

When it comes to ordering meat at a butcher shop, it’s all about the cut. Bacon in Spanish is mostly found in a thin cut. But many other cuts exist; here are the most popular ones in Spanish:

El solomillo – Filet mignon

El lomito – Tenderloin

El lomo Bajo – Sirloin

El lomo alto – Prime rib

El chuletón – Rib roast/large end

La chuleta de lomo – T-Bone steak

La cadera – Rump

La contra – Silverside

El redondo – Eye of Round

La aguja – Chuck

El pez – Chuck tender

La aleta – Bavette

El pecho – Brisket

La carrillada – Cheek

La costilla – Rib

La entraña – Thin Skirt

La falda – Flank

La lengua – Tongue

El hígado – Liver

El pescuezo – Neck

El rabo – Oxtail/tail

El morcillo – Shank

La tapa – Topside

El puyazo – A rump steak from a steer

Once you know what you want, make sure to clearly say how much of it you want. If you want to order bacon in Spanish, it’s more commonly found in a package or sold by the pound.

Latin America uses pounds—las libras. Just make sure the meat you buy is clean and it’s a good and reliable place. I don’t recommend eating meat just anywhere while traveling.

Example Conversation

Carnicero: Buenos días. ¿Cómo le puedo ayudar?Samuel: Me gustaría un lomito, una pechuga de pollo y la lengua por favor.Carnicero: Todo aquí es fresco y tengo todo lo que necesita.Samuel: Excelente. Gracias. Carnicero: ¿Necesita algo más? Tengo costillas frescas e hígado. Samuel: No, eso es todo; gracias.

Butcher: Good morning. What can I get for you?Samuel: I’d like the tenderloin, a chicken breast and the tongue please. Butcher: Everything here is fresh and I have what you want. Samuel: Excellent. Thanks.Butcher: Anything else? I have fresh ribs and liver. Samuel: No, that’s it; thank you. 

What Will You Order?

I love Mexican food. In Mexico, bacon in Spanish is commonly referred to as tocineta. It can be rojo (rare) or bien cocido (well done). My favorite Mexican dishes are molletes and tacos. I love the varieties of salsas and spicy food you can find in this colorful country.

People generally love to eat meat in Spanish-speaking countries. They also love inviting foreigners to have a good steak or any traditional dish. Latin America has many amazingly flavorful dishes. If you’re looking to get creative in the kitchen, try out these 15 National Dishes of Latin America that you won’t want to miss!

Now that you know how to order bacon in Spanish in different ways. What will you order? What is your favorite meat dish? Which new dish are you excited to try next time you travel? Leave a comment and let me know.

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Mar Z. Luna Mar Z. LunaFreelance Writer at Learn Grow TravelMar Z. Luna is a published writer and communicator who loves to explore and educate. She majored in Communications and strives to help others improve their lives. She recently published a book, Inside, and has contributed to different publications such as Que Pasa Magazine. Communicating comes naturally to her and she hopes to simplify what seems complex by using reliable sources and her teaching experience. You can find her at www.learngrowtravel.com Mar Z. Luna Latest posts by Mar Z. Luna (see all)
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