Carne = Meat

 

aguayon = sirloin steak

aguja = litterally "needle." A cut of chuck steak that is one of the favorite al carbón (char-broiled) specialties of northern Mexico

albóndiga = meatball

arrachera = skirt steak

bistec = beefsteak

borrego = lamb 

cabra = goat

cabrito = kid (young goat)

carne = meat

  -- de cordero = lamb shank

  -- de puerco = pork

  -- de res = beef

  -- molida = ground meat or hamburger

  -- para asar = round steak

  -- picada = chopped beef  

  -- ternera = veal  

carnero = mutton or lamb  

carnitas = deep fried or shredded pork

cecina = cured meat  

cordero = mutton or lamb

cerdo = pork

cerdo picado = minced pork

chamberete = shank of beef

chamberete de carnero more commonly caña del cordero  = lamb or mutton shank

chicharrones = fried pork skins, cracklings

chilocuil = red maguey worms. second in popularity to the meocuil or white maguey worm.

chivo = kid (young goat)

chorizo = spicy pork sausage 

chuleta = chop, cutlet 

  -- de aguayon = sirloin steak

  -- de carnero = lamb chop

  -- de cordero = lamb chop

  -- de dos lomos = porterhouse steak

  -- de puerco = pork chop

  -- de ternera = veal chop

chuletón = beef chop

ciervo, venado = deer

codillo = elbow or knuckle.

conejo = rabbit

corazón = heart

cordero = lamb

costillas = ribs, spare ribs

costillas chuletas = rib steaks

cuajo = rennet  

cueritos = pickled pig skin

cueta = eye of the round

diezmillo = chuck steak

embutido = sausage and the making of sausage, cold meat

espinazo = spine, back bone

fajita = skirt steak cut into strips and fried

falda = skirt steak which is often actually flank steak

fiambre = cold cuts 

filete = filet, filet mignon

filete de carne =  steak

guasano = eye of the round

gusanos de maguey = worms found on the maguey (agave) plant that, when fried are considered a delicacy. The worm often found in bottles of mescal.

hamburguesa = hamburger 

hígado = liver

huesos = bones

jamón = ham

jumil = an insect that is eaten both alive and dried

lengua = tongue

liebre = hare

lomo = loin  

lomo de cerdo = pork tenderloin

machacado = dried shredded beef

magro = lean meat

manitas de cerdo = pigs feet

manteca = lard  

manteca de res = suet

meocuil = white maguey worm

milanesa, chuleta = cutlet

paleta = chuck shoulder

paletilla = pork shoulder

pecho curado = corned beef

pecho de res = brisket

pierna = leg, shank  

puerco = pork

punta de jamón = ham end

rabo del buey, rabo de toro = oxtail

res = beef (as in carne de res)

riñón = kidney  

salchicha = sausage

salchichón = dry sausage

sesos = brains (the food)

solomillo = sirloin or tenderloin steak

tasajo = jerky  

ternera = veal

tiras de carne asado = roasted stripes of meat

tocino = bacon  

tripa = tripe

trozo de rosbif = rib roast

ubre = udder as in tacos de ubre

vaca = cow

venado, carne de venado = venison 

venado, ciervo = deer

 

Top

back bone = espinazo

bacon = tocino

beef = res, carne de res

  -- chop = chuletón

  -- chopped = carne picada

  -- corned = pecho curado

  -- dried shredded = machacado

  -- shank = chamberete

  -- steak = bistec

bones = huesos

brains (the food) = sesos

brisket = pecho de res

capon = capone

chop = chuleta(o)

chuck shoulder = paleta

chuck steak = diezmillo

cold cuts = fiambre

cow = vaca

cracklings = chicharrones

cured meat = cecina

cutlet = milanesa, chuleta

deer = venado, ciervo

elbow = codillo

eye of the round =  cueta, guasano

fajitas = arracheras

filet mignon  = filete

goat = cabra

goose = ganso

ground meat = carne molida

ham = jamón

ham end = punta de jamón

hamburger (meat) = carne molida

hamburger (sandwich) = hamburguesa

hare = liebre

heart = corazón

jerky =  tasajo

kid (young goat) = cabrito, chivo

kidney = riñón

knuckle = codillo

lamb = carnero, cordero

lamb chop = chuleta de carnero, chuleta de cordero

lard = manteca

lean meat = magro

leg = pierna

liver = hígado

loin =  lomo

maguey worm = meocuil

meat = carne

meatball = albóndiga

mutton = carnero

oxtail = rabo del buey, rabo de toro

pechuga = breast

pheasant = faisan

pig = cerdo, puerco  

  -- skins, fried = chicharrones

  -- skins, pickled = cueritos 

pigs feet = manitas de cerdo

pork = cerdo, puerco, carnias, carne de puerco

  -- chop = chuleta de puerco  

  -- deep fried = carnitas

  -- minced = cerdo picado

  -- shoulder = paletilla

  -- shredded = carnitas

  -- tenderloin = lomo de cerdo

porterhouse steak = chuleta de dos lomos

rabbit = conejo

rennet = cuajo

rib roast = trozo de rosbif

rib steak = costilla chuleta

ribs = costillas

round steak = carne para asar

sausage = salchicha, embutido

sausage, dry = salchichón

shank = pierna

shank of lamb or mutton = chamberete de carnero more commonly caña del cordero

sirloin steak = aguayon, chuleta de aguayon. solomillo

skirt steak = arracheras, falda

skirt steak cut into strips and fried = fajita

spare ribs = costillas

spine = espinazo

steak = bistec, filet de carne

suet = manteca de res

sweetbreads = mollejas

tenderloin steak = solomillo

tongue = lengua

tripe = tripa

turkey = pavo, guajolote (pavo is the more common term)

udder = ubre sometimes used in tacos

veal = ternera. carne de ternera

veal chop = chuleta de ternera

venison = venado, carne de venado

 

Pescado y Mariscos  =  Fish and Seafood

abadejo = haddock

abulón = abalone

acocil = small, fresh water crustacean  

ahumado = kipper

ala = fin of a fish

almeja = clam

anchoa, anchovete, bocón = anchovy

anguila = eel

arenque = herring

arenque ahumado = kipper

atún = tuna

bacalao = cod

bacalao salado = salted cod

bagre = see catfish

blanco de Nilo = a fish from the perch family; usually farm-raised

blanco de Pátzcuaro = a mild flavored fish from Lake Pátzcuaro in Michoacán

bocón = anchovy

bonito = bonito tuna

caballa = mackerel

caguama = a large turtle; an extra large bottle of beer or any large item

calamar = squid

callos de hacha = scallops

camarón = shrimp

cangrejo = crab

caracol = snail

cazón = dog fish, small shark

charales = a fish similar to smelts

choros = mussels

conchas = scallops

corvina = sea bass

cuda = barracuda

espada also pez espada = swordfish

gambas = prawns

hipogloso = halibut

huachinango = red snapper

hueva = roe

jaiba = crab

jurel = yellow tail

langosta = lobster  

langostino = crayfish

lenguado = flounder

lisa = striped mullet

lobina, róbalo = bass

macabi = bonefish

mariscos = seafood, usually shellfish; pescado is the usual term for fin fish

marlin = marlin

mejillones = mussels

mero = grouper

mojarra = a type of perch (the fish)

mújol = mullet

ostión = oyster

palometa = permit (the fish)

pámpano = pompano

pargo = red snapper

pejelagarto  = a type of alligator gar

percha = perch (the fish)

pescado blanco = white fish

pez espada = swordfish

pez vela = sailfish

pulpo = octopus

rape = monkfish

róbalo = bass 

sábalo = tarpon (silver king)

salmón = salmon  

salmón ahumado = smoked salmon

salmonete = red mullet

sardinas = sardines

sierra = mackerel

tiburón = shark

tortuga = turtle

trucha = trout

veneras = scallops

 

Top

abalone = abulón

alligator gar = pejelagarto 

anchovy = anchoa, anchovete, bocón

barracuda = cuda

bass = lobina, róbalo

bonefish = macabi

bonito tuna = bonito

catfish = bagre.  There are many verities of catfish found in Mexico and they go by many different names.  Here are the most common: bagre (with many modifying words), barge, barbe, barbo, cautete, chihuil, cabeza de hueso, juile, siluro.  There may be others.

clam = almeja

cod = bacalao

  -- salted = bacalao salado

crab = jaiba, cangrejo

crayfish = langostino

dog fish = cazón

eel = anguila

fin = ala

flounder = lenguado

grouper = mero

haddock =  abadejo

halibut = hipogloso

herring = arenque

kipper = arenque ahumado

lobster = langosta

mackerel = caballa, sierra

marlin = marlin

monkfish = rape

mullet = mújol

mussels = mejillones, choros

octopus = pulpo

oyster = ostión

perch (the fish) = percha, mojarra

permit (the fish) = palometa

pompano = pámpano

prawns = gambas

red mullet = salmonete

red snapper = huachinango, pargo

roe = hueva

sailfish = pez vela

salmon = salmón

  -- smoked = salmón ahumado

sardines = sardinas

scallops = veneras, conchas, callos de hacha

sea bass = corvine

shark = tiburón

  -- small = cazón 

shrimp = camarón

snail = caracol

squid = calamar

striped mullet = lisa

swordfish = espada, pez espada

tarpon (silver king) = sábalo

trout = trucha

tuna = atún

turtle = tortuga

white fish = pescado blanco

yellow tail = jurel

 

 

Aves = Fowl

ala = wing 

capone =capon  

codorniz = quail   

faisan = pheasant  

gallina = hen

ganso = goose

guajolote, pavo = turkey (pavo is the more common term)  

menudencias = giblets    

mollejas = gizzards, sweetbreads

muslo = thigh

muslo de pollo = chicken drumstick  

paloma = dove, pigeon

pato = duck  

pavo = turkey 

pechuga = breast (as in chicken breast); white chicken meat   

pichon = pigeon  

pollo = chicken

pollo de leche = fryer

trocitos de pollo = chicken nuggets  

tinga de pollo = chunks of chicken meat  

trozos de pollo = pieces of chicken  

 

Top

capon = capone

chicken = pollo

  -- chunks = tinga de pollo 

  -- drumstick = muslo de pollo

  -- fryer = pollo de leche

  -- nuggets = trocitos de pollo

  -- pieces = trozos de pollo

dove = paloma

duck = pato

giblets = menudencias

gizzards = mollejas

goose = ganso

hen = gallina

pheasant = faisan

pigeon = pichon, paloma

quail = codorniz

sweetbreads = mollejas

thigh = muslo

turkey = pavo, sometimes guajolote

wing = ala

 

Frutas y Nueces = Fruits and Nuts

aceituna = olive (Aceituna is not commonly used in Mexico except on labels of imported olive producs)

agua de coco = coconut milk

aguacate = avocado

ajonjolí = sesame

albaricoque, chabacano = apricot

almendra = almond

anacardo, nuez de la India = cashew  

arándano -- see note under berries

arándano rojo = cranberry (see note under berries)

avellana = filbert, hazelnut

baya = berry (see note under berries)

bellota = acorn

cacahuate = peanut

capulín = a fruit resembling a wild cherry, used for medicinal and ornamental purposes.  

castaño = chestnut

cereza = cherry

chabacano = apricot

chicozapote = brown-skinned fruit with a mild flavor somewhat like that of a pear.

chirimoya = a scaly, greenish-brown fruit that is white inside with large seeds. Very sweet with a custard-like flavor and grainy texture.

ciruela = plum

ciruela pasa = prune

coco = coconut

dátíl = date (the fruit)

durazno = peach

frambuesa = raspberry

fresas = strawberries

granada = pomegranate

grosella = currrant

guanábana = a medium large, sour fruit often used in ice cream

guayaba = guava 

guinda = choke or sour cherry

higo = fig  

lima = lemon

limón = lime  -- Note that lima/lemon and limón/lime in Mexico are reversed from English.  Can be confusing.  To make it more confusing, this reversal does not occur in all Spanish-speaking countries.

maguey = agave

mamey = a tree and the edible fruit it bears which is peach colored. A favorite ingredient in ice cream.  

mandarina = tangerine

mango = mango

manzana = apple  

maracuyá = passion fruit

melón = cantaloupe, melon

membrillo, ate = quince

mora -- see note under berries 

mora azul = blueberry (see note under berries)

naranja = orange

nectarina = nectarine

nogales = walnuts

nuez (plural nueces) = nut

nuez de la India, anacardo = cashew

nuez del Brazil = Brazil nut

oliva, aceituna = olive (Aceituna is not commonly used in Mexico except on labels of imported olive products)  

papaya = papaya

parcha = passion fruit

pasa = raisin

pera = pear

piña = pineapple

piñón = pine nut

pitajaya = dragon fruit plant

pitaya = another dragon fruit

plantaina, plátano macho = plantain, a large, thick-skinned, three-sided banana is used cooked, never raw.  

plátano = banana

plátano macho, plantaina = plantain, a large, thick-skinned, three-sided banana is used cooked, never raw.  

sandía = watermelon

tamarindo = tamarind

tejocote = a tree which produces a fruit resembling a crab apple. Used in syrups and punches

tejocote = Mexican hawthorn which is native to Mexico.  

toronja = grapefruit

uva = grape

uva pasa = raisin

zapote = trees which produce tropical fruits including the zapote prieto, zapote blanco, and zapote negro

zarzamora = blackberry

 

Top

acorn = bellota

agave = maguey

almond = almendra

apple = manzana

apricot = albaricoque, chabacano

avocado = aguacate

banana =  plátano

berries = bayas  --- blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, and mulberries are sometimes called by a confusing overlapping of the same names = arándano, mora, zarzamora.  Strawberries = fresas are not part of this confusion.

blackberry = zarzamora (see note under berries)

blueberry = mora azul (see note under berries)

Brazil nut = nuez del Brazil

cantaloupe = melón

cashew = anacardo, nuez de la India

cereza = cherry

chestnut = castaño

choke cherry = guinda

coconut = coco

coconut milk = agua de coco

cranberry = arándano rojo (see note under berries)

currrant = grosella

date (the fruit) = dátíl

dragon fruit = pitaya, pitajaya

fig = higo

filbert = avellana

grape = uva

grapefruit = toronja

guava = guayaba

hazelnut = avellana

lemon = lima

lime = limón -- Note that lima/lemon and limón/lime in Mexico are reversed from English.  Can be confusing.  To make it more confusing, this reversal does not occur in all Spanish-speaking countries.

mango = mango

melon = melón

Mexican hawthorn = tejocote

nectarine = nectarina

nut = nuez; (plural nueces)

olive = oliva, aceituna (Aceituna is not commonly used in Mexico except on labels of imported olive products)  

orange = naranja

papaya = papaya

passion fruit = maracuyá, parcha

peach = durazno

peanut = cacahuate

peanut butter = crema de cacahuate , mantequilla de cacahuate

pear = pera

pine nut = piñón

pineapple = piña

plantain = plantaina, plátano macho = a large, thick-skinned, three-sided banana is used cooked, never raw.

plum = ciruela

pomegranate = granada

prune = ciruela pasa

quince = membrillo, ate

raisin = uva pasa, sometimes just pasa

raspberry = frambuesa

sesame = ajonjolí

sour cherry = guinda

strawberries = fresas

tamarind = tamarindo

tangerine = mandarina

walnuts = nogales

watermelon = sandía

 

Leches y Huevos = Dairy and Eggs

asadero = a type of cheese

clara de huevo = egg white

crema = cream

  -- agria = sour cream

  -- dulce = sweet cream

  -- para batir = whipping cream

huevo = egg

  -- clara = egg white

  -- cocido = boiled egg