"Paletilla" is a noun in Spanish.
The phonetic transcription of "paletilla" in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is /paleˈtiʝa/.
In Spanish, "paletilla" primarily refers to the small shoulder or shoulder blade of an animal. In anatomy, it describes the anatomical structure typically found in humans or the anatomical term for the shoulder blade. The term is also used in culinary contexts, particularly in Argentina, where "paletilla" can refer to cuts of meat, especially pork or lamb.
It is moderately frequent in both oral and written contexts, especially in relation to anatomy, cooking, and butchering terminology, though it may be more commonly encountered in culinary discussions.
The doctor examined the patient's shoulder blade to rule out injuries.
Para la receta, necesitamos una paletilla de cordero.
For the recipe, we need a shoulder of lamb.
La paletilla de pollo es una parte muy jugosa de la carne.
The term "paletilla" is not commonly found in idiomatic expressions, but it can still feature in a few culinary or anatomical phrases. Here are some relevant examples:
It is said that someone with an angel's shoulder is very kind and generous.
Estirar la paletilla – "To stretch the shoulder"
Después de ejercitarse, es importante estirar la paletilla.
After exercising, it is important to stretch the shoulder.
Paletilla al horno – "Shoulder baked in the oven"
Para la cena, preparé una paletilla al horno con verduras.
The word "paletilla" comes from the diminutive form of "paleta," which means "blade" or "shovel." The root "palet-" is linked to the Latin word "pala," which also means "spade" or "shovel." The diminutive suffix "-illa" is used in Spanish to denote a smaller version or a term of endearment.
There are no direct antonyms for "paletilla," as it specifically denotes a certain anatomical structure or meat cut rather than a quality or state that could have a direct opposite.