Latin and Brazilian Meat Cuts in English: The Butcher Counter Translation Guide
Moved to Florida and can't find your cut? Beef is butchered differently in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, and the Caribbean, and the names don't line up neatly with U.S. labels. Use these tables at the counter, or just tell us the name you know.
Beef
| U.S. name | Spanish | Portuguese (Brazil) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top sirloin cap (rump cap, coulotte) | Picaña · Tapa de cuadril (AR) · Punta de anca (CO) | Picanha | Churrasco, grill, roast |
| Tri-tip | Colita de cuadril (AR) | Maminha | Grill, roast |
| Top sirloin | Cuadril (AR) · Palomilla (thin-cut, Cuban) | Alcatra | Steaks, thin bistec |
| Flap meat (bottom sirloin flap) | Names vary by country; ask us | Fraldinha | Grill, marinades |
| Skirt steak | Entraña (AR) · Arrachera (MX) · Churrasco (Nicaraguan & Cuban menus) | Diafragma | Grill, carne asada, fajitas |
| Flank steak | Vacío (AR) · Falda (MX) · Sobrebarriga (CO) | Vazio | Grill, ropa vieja, stuffed and rolled |
| Ribeye | Ojo de bife (AR) · Lomo alto (ES) | Bife ancho · Entrecot | Grill, pan-sear |
| New York strip (striploin) | Bife de chorizo (AR) · Lomo bajo (ES) | Contrafilé | Grill, pan-sear |
| Tenderloin (filet mignon) | Lomo (AR) · Filete (MX) · Solomillo (ES) | Filé mignon | Pan-sear, roast |
| Cross-cut short ribs (flanken) | Asado de tira (AR) | Costela em tiras | Grill |
| Short ribs / beef ribs | Costilla de res | Costela | Slow-cook, braise |
| Chuck | Aguja (AR) · Diezmillo (MX) | Acém | Stews, braises, grinding |
| Eye of round | Peceto (AR) · Muchacho (CO, VE) · Boliche (CU) | Lagarto | Roasts, stuffed roasts |
| Beef shank | Osobuco · Chambarete (MX) | Músculo · Ossobuco | Soups, braises |
| Ground beef | Carne molida · Carne picada (AR, ES) | Carne moída | Burgers, picadillo |
Pork
| U.S. name | Spanish | Portuguese (Brazil) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pork belly | Panceta · Tocino (in some countries) | Barriga de porco · Toucinho (fattier, skin-on) | Torresmo, chicharrón, grill, roast |
| Pork shoulder (Boston butt, picnic) | Paleta · Pernil (Puerto Rico) | Paleta · Copa-lombo | Pernil, carnitas, pulled pork |
| Fresh ham (pork leg) | Pierna de cerdo | Pernil | Roasts |
| Pork loin | Lomo de cerdo | Lombo | Roasts |
| Pork chops | Chuletas | Bisteca | Grill, pan-fry |
| Pork ribs | Costillas de cerdo | Costelinha | Grill, smoke |
Chicken
| U.S. name | Spanish | Portuguese (Brazil) |
|---|---|---|
| Whole chicken | Pollo entero | Frango inteiro |
| Breast | Pechuga | Peito |
| Thigh | Muslo (MX) · Contramuslo (ES) | Sobrecoxa |
| Drumstick | Pierna (MX) · Muslo (ES) | Coxa |
| Wings | Alitas | Asas · Asinhas |
| Chicken hearts | Corazones de pollo | Coração de frango |
Same word, different cut
A few names mean different things depending on where you're from. These are the ones that cause the most confusion at the counter:
- Churrasco: in Brazil it means barbecue in general; on Nicaraguan and Cuban menus it means skirt steak.
- Lomo: in Argentina it's the tenderloin; in Spain it usually means the loin.
- Pernil: in Puerto Rico it's a roasted pork shoulder; in Brazil it's the leg.
- Tocino: in Mexico it usually means bacon; in other countries it means pork fat or belly.
- Falda: in Mexico it's flank steak; in Argentina it's a fattier rib cut used for puchero.
How to order like a pro
- Name the dish. "Carne asada for 8," "bistec for the week," or "feijoada on Sunday" tells the butcher more than a cut name.
- Give the thickness in inches. 1 inch is about 2.5 cm. Thin bistec is around ¼ inch (6 mm).
- Think in pounds. 1 lb is 454 g, and 1 kg is 2.2 lb.
- Say how you want the fat. Left on for the grill, or trimmed.
- Call ahead for large or unusual orders: (863) 422-2313.
Reading this for a churrasco? Start with our picanha guide. This guide is also available en español and em português.
Quick answers
What is skirt steak called in Spanish?
Entraña in Argentina, arrachera in Mexico, and churrasco on many Nicaraguan and Cuban menus.
What is picanha called in English?
Top sirloin cap. It is also sold as rump cap or coulotte.
Can I buy Latin and Brazilian cuts in Davenport, FL?
Yes. At Costa's Meat Market in Davenport you can ask for your cut by the name you know, and our butchers will help you find the closest match. Call (863) 422-2313 to check availability.
Shop the counter at Costa's
2169 Davenport Blvd, Davenport, FL. Order online for pickup, call for custom cuts, or join the WhatsApp group for weekly specials.