carne asada: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, culinary
Quick answer
What does “carne asada” mean?
A Mexican dish of seasoned, grilled, and thinly sliced beef (typically skirt or flank steak).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Mexican dish of seasoned, grilled, and thinly sliced beef (typically skirt or flank steak).
Refers both to the specific dish and, by extension, to the seasoned raw beef prepared for grilling. Can also describe the social event centered around grilling this meat.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is virtually unknown in general British English. In American English, it is recognized, especially in regions with significant Mexican-American influence (Southwest, California, Texas).
Connotations
In American English, it connotes authentic Mexican/Tex-Mex cuisine, outdoor cooking, and casual dining. It has no connotations in British English.
Frequency
Extremely rare in British English. Low to moderate frequency in relevant American regional contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “carne asada” in a Sentence
[make/cook/grill] + carne asada[serve/eat] + carne asada + [in/with/as] + [tacos/burritos]carne asada + [tacos/fries/plate]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “carne asada” in a Sentence
verb
American English
- We're going to carne asada this weekend for the party.
adjective
American English
- He makes amazing carne asada tacos.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Menu descriptions in restaurants, food industry marketing.
Academic
Rare; possibly in anthropological, cultural, or culinary studies.
Everyday
Used in social planning ('Let's have a carne asada'), restaurant ordering, cooking discussions.
Technical
Specific culinary term for a preparation method and dish.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “carne asada”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “carne asada”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “carne asada”
- Mispronouncing as 'carne a-SAY-da' or 'carne a-SAH-da' (correct: a-SA-da).
- Using as a countable noun (e.g., 'two carne asadas') – it's typically non-count, though 'carne asada tacos' is count.
- Misspelling as 'carne asada' or 'carne-assada'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While it is made from steak cuts (like skirt or flank), 'carne asada' refers specifically to the Mexican/Mexican-American dish involving marinating and grilling the meat, then slicing it thinly.
It would not be widely understood outside specific culinary contexts. You would typically describe it as 'Mexican grilled beef' or 'seasoned, grilled steak'.
In English, it's commonly /ˌkɑːrneɪ əˈsɑːdə/ (US) or /ˌkɑːneɪ əˈsɑːdə/ (UK), with the stress on the 'a' in 'asada'.
It is typically seasoned with chili powder or other spices, so it can be mildly to moderately spicy, but the primary flavours are often citrus, garlic, and herbs.
A Mexican dish of seasoned, grilled, and thinly sliced beef (typically skirt or flank steak).
Carne asada is usually informal, culinary in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CAR NEeds ASADA' (Assada sounds like 'a sizzler') – a car needs to go to a sizzling grill for this meat.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOOD IS CULTURE (the dish represents a specific culinary tradition).
Practice
Quiz
In which regional variety of English is 'carne asada' most likely to be understood and used?