How do you say skirt steak in Spanish?

Skirt steak goes by arrachera in Mexico, entraña in Argentina and Uruguay, and falda in Spain, each reflecting a distinct culinary tradition. In Mexico the cut is called arrachera. In Argentina and Uruguay it is entraña. In Spain, butchers sell it as falda. All three refer to the same thin, flavorful cut from the diaphragm area of the cow.

Is arrachera the same as carne asada?

Arrachera names a specific cut of beef (the diaphragm muscle), while carne asada is a grilling style that can use many different cuts. Carne asada is a general term meaning grilled meat and can refer to any cut. Arrachera specifically means skirt steak. You might eat arrachera as carne asada, but carne asada could also be sirloin, flank, or other cuts.

What cut is entraña in English?

Entraña is the Argentine and Uruguayan name for skirt steak, the diaphragm muscle of the cow. It is the same cut called arrachera in Mexico and falda in Spain.

Spanish vocabulary · Intermediate

How to Say Skirt Steak in Spanish: Arrachera, Entraña & Falda

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Arrachera · noun (feminine) · ah-rrah-CHEH-rah

Skirt steak in Spanish depends on where you are. In Mexico it is arrachera, a staple of norteño cuisine served in tacos and fajitas. In Argentina and Uruguay, the same cut is entraña, a prized part of any asado. In Spain, butchers label it falda.

Arrachera has a rolled rr and stress on the third syllable: ah-rrah-CHEH-rah. Entraña is ehn-TRAH-nyah, with the ñ producing a soft ny sound.

Pedí unos tacos de arrachera en el mercado.

I ordered some skirt steak tacos at the market.

Skirt Steak in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for skirt steak, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
arrachera	skirt steak	ah-rrah-CHEH-rah	Default, widely understood
entraña	skirt steak		Argentina, Uruguay, and the Southern Cone
falda	skirt steak		Spain
churrasco de falda	skirt steak		some Central American countries

How Native Speakers Use Arrachera

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Ordering at a Mexican taquería

La arrachera marinada con limón y chile es mi favorita.

Skirt steak marinated in lime and chili is my favorite.

Arrachera is a cornerstone of northern Mexican cooking, often served in tacos or fajitas.

At an Argentine asado

La entraña fue lo primero que pusieron en la parrilla.

The skirt steak was the first thing they put on the grill.

In Argentina, entraña is grilled quickly over high heat and served as part of a traditional asado.

Shopping at a butcher in Spain

¿Me pone medio kilo de falda para hacer a la plancha?

Can I get half a kilo of skirt steak to grill on the griddle?

In Spain, falda also means skirt (clothing), so context at the carnicería makes the meaning clear.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Arrachera

Using arrachera in Argentina

Incorrect: Quiero arrachera para el asado.

Correct: Quiero entraña para el asado.

Argentine butchers and cooks won't recognize arrachera. The standard term in Argentina and Uruguay is entraña. Using the local name avoids confusion at the butcher shop.

Confusing falda (skirt steak) with falda (clothing skirt) in Spain

Incorrect: Voy a comprar una falda en la carnicería.

Correct: Voy a comprar falda de ternera en la carnicería.

Falda alone is ambiguous in Spain since it also means clothing skirt. Adding de ternera (of beef) or de vaca removes the ambiguity.

Why Skirt Steak Matters in Spanish-Speaking Cultures

Norteño grilling traditions

The asado ritual

Lock in Skirt Steak 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 Arrachera used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using arrachera in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Pedí unos tacos de arrachera en el mercado. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About Skirt Steak in Spanish

How do you say skirt steak in Spanish?: Skirt steak goes by arrachera in Mexico, entraña in Argentina and Uruguay, and falda in Spain, each reflecting a distinct culinary tradition. In Mexico the cut is called arrachera. In Argentina and Uruguay it is entraña. In Spain, butchers sell it as falda. All three refer to the same thin, flavorful cut from the diaphragm area of the cow.
Is arrachera the same as carne asada?: Arrachera names a specific cut of beef (the diaphragm muscle), while carne asada is a grilling style that can use many different cuts. Carne asada is a general term meaning grilled meat and can refer to any cut. Arrachera specifically means skirt steak. You might eat arrachera as carne asada, but carne asada could also be sirloin, flank, or other cuts.
What cut is entraña in English?: Entraña is the Argentine and Uruguayan name for skirt steak, the diaphragm muscle of the cow. It is the same cut called arrachera in Mexico and falda in Spain.