Res vs. Carne
This whole issue about what various types of meat are called in Spanish is somewhat confusing. Is "carne" always beef or is it equivalent to the generic "meat"? Or, is "carne" beef and "res" is meat. Or, is it a matter of country / region?
I asked a Colombian today "Que tipo de carne" he was cooking over an open flame at the Smithsonian folk life festival. He looked at me a little strangely and replied "todos es de vaca". Later, I asked him if a couple of the pieces were "cerdo" (they were clearly not beef) and he said they were. I think he considered "carne" to be beef.
3 Answers
Carne = meat = beef
If you want something else you just ask for pollo=chicken pescado = fish mariscos = seafood chancho/cerdo = pork chivo = goat cordero = lamb
etc
To confuse even more, in my flight on Avianca airlines (wonderful airline!) a few days ago from Colombia, I was asked by the stewardess, "¿Pollo o carne?" as my choice for a meal. So my question is does "carne" signify red meat?
Well Oldsalt I'm no authority but I was told carne is all meats and you had to be specifc.
