Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Veal in Spanish: Ternera
Ternera · noun · tehr-NEH-rah
Veal in Spanish is ternera, a feminine noun that refers both to a young cow (calf) and to the meat from that animal. In restaurant and culinary contexts, ternera is understood as veal without needing to add carne de. The word comes from tierno (tender), reflecting the tenderness of the meat.
Say tehr-NEH-rah with three syllables, stressing the middle one.
Pedí una milanesa de ternera con ensalada.
I ordered a breaded veal cutlet with salad.
Veal in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for veal, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| ternera | veal | tehr-NEH-rah | Default, widely understood |
| carne de ternera | veal | full phrase specifying veal meat | |
| becerro | veal | the calf animal itself, some regions |
How Native Speakers Use Ternera
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Ordering at a restaurant
La ternera a la plancha viene con puré de papas.
The grilled veal comes with mashed potatoes.
On menus, ternera by itself implies the meat, not the live animal.
Shopping at a butcher
¿Tiene ternera fresca para hacer un guiso?
Do you have fresh veal for making a stew?
At a carnicería, you simply ask for ternera without extra explanation.
Describing a recipe
Esta receta de ossobuco lleva ternera cortada en rodajas gruesas.
This ossobuco recipe calls for veal cut in thick slices.
Ternera appears frequently in traditional Italian-influenced dishes in Argentina.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Ternera
Using vaca instead of ternera
Incorrect: Quiero una milanesa de vaca.
Correct: Quiero una milanesa de ternera.
Vaca refers to adult cow or beef in general. Ternera specifically means calf or veal. The distinction matters in culinary contexts because the texture and flavor differ.
Confusing ternera with ternero
Incorrect: Compramos ternero para la cena.
Correct: Compramos ternera para la cena.
Ternero (masculine) refers to a male calf as a live animal. Ternera (feminine) is the standard word for the meat. When buying veal to cook, always use ternera.
Lock in Veal 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 Ternera used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using ternera in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Pedí una milanesa de ternera con ensalada. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Veal in Spanish
- How do you say veal in Spanish?
- Veal is ternera in Spanish, a feminine noun that covers both the young animal and its meat. In culinary settings, ternera automatically implies the meat.
- What is the difference between ternera and res?
- Ternera is specifically veal — meat from a young calf. Res is a more general term for beef cattle or beef, used broadly in Mexico and Central America. Carne de res means beef, while carne de ternera specifies veal.
- Is ternera common in Spanish-speaking cuisine?
- Ternera is particularly popular in Spanish and Argentine cuisine, appearing in dishes like ternera a la plancha, milanesa de ternera, and escalope de ternera. In Spain, it is one of the most frequently ordered meats in restaurants.