Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Ground Beef in Spanish: Carne Molida & Carne Picada
Carne molida · noun phrase (feminine) · KAHR-neh moh-LEE-dah
Ground beef is carne molida (Latin America) or carne picada (Spain, Argentina). Both mean meat that has been ground or minced.
KAHR-neh moh-LEE-dah (carne molida) · KAHR-neh pee-KAH-dah (carne picada)
Necesito medio kilo de carne molida para las hamburguesas.
I need half a kilo of ground beef for the burgers.
Ground Beef in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for ground beef, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| carne molida | ground beef | KAHR-neh moh-LEE-dah | Default, widely understood |
| carne picada | ground beef | Spain, Argentina | |
| carne de res molida | ground beef | formal — specifying beef |
How Native Speakers Use Carne molida
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Mexican recipe
Fríe la carne molida con cebolla y tomate para los tacos.
Fry the ground beef with onion and tomato for the tacos.
Carne molida is standard in Mexico, Colombia, and most of Latin America.
Spanish supermarket
La carne picada está en oferta esta semana.
Ground beef is on sale this week.
Carne picada is the everyday term in Spain and Argentina.
At the butcher
¿Me puede moler un kilo de carne de res, por favor?
Can you grind a kilo of beef for me, please?
Moler (to grind) is the verb; some ask the butcher to grind fresh.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Carne molida
Saying carne de tierra (literal)
Incorrect: Necesito carne de tierra para la receta.
Correct: Necesito carne molida para la receta.
Ground in ground beef refers to grinding, not the ground (earth). Molida (from moler) is correct.
Assuming carne picada means diced
Incorrect: Corta la carne picada en cubos.
Correct: Carne picada already means minced/ground, not diced.
Picada here means minced (finely ground). Diced meat = carne en cubos or troceada.
Lock in Ground Beef Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Carne molida used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Ground Beef in Spanish
- How do you say ground beef in Spanish?
- Latin America: carne molida. Spain/Argentina: carne picada. Both widely understood.
- Is there a difference between carne molida and carne picada?
- Not in meaning — both are ground/minced beef. The difference is regional.
- How do you specify lean ground beef?
- Carne molida magra or carne picada magra. Can specify fat percentage too.