Spanish Phrase
Mi filete está poco hecho.
Meaning
The sentence means ‘My steak is undercooked’ or ‘My steak is only a little cooked.’ It conveys that the speaker prefers the meat rarer than medium‑well.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re at a restaurant, cooking at home, or talking about your food preferences. It’s handy for telling a waiter how you’d like your steak prepared or for describing a dish you’ve already received.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Mifileteestápocohecho
Mi (possessive adjective)
Shows ownership; agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
filete (noun)
Masculine singular noun meaning ‘steak’ or ‘fillet’.
está (estar)
Temporary state verb; used for conditions that can change, such as how food is cooked.
poco (adverb of degree)
Modifies the participle ‘hecho’ to indicate a small amount or low degree.
hecho (past participle used as adjective)
When paired with estar, it describes the state of something that has been done or cooked.
🗨In Conversation
¿Cómo está tu filete?
How is your steak?
Mi filete está poco hecho.
My steak is undercooked.
✕Common Mistakes
Mi filete es poco hecho.
Use ‘está’ (estar) for temporary states like how food is cooked, not ‘es’ (ser).
Mi filete está poco cocido.
If you want to emphasize the cooking method, ‘poco cocido’ is also correct; ‘poco hecho’ is idiomatic but can sound odd to some learners.
Mi filete está poco está hecho.
Adverbs of degree go before the participle, not between the verb and the adverb.
↔Alternatives
Mi filete está poco cocido.
My steak is a little cooked.
Mi filete está a punto.
My steak is medium‑rare.
Mi filete está bien hecho.
My steak is well done.
Cultural Tip
In most Spanish‑speaking countries the degree of doneness is described with terms like ‘poco hecho’ (rare), ‘a punto’ (medium‑rare), ‘bien hecho’ (well done). Waiters will often ask ‘¿Cómo lo quiere?’ (How do you want it?) and expect you to use these expressions. Remember that ‘poco hecho’ is not a compliment in every region; some people prefer their meat more cooked, so adjust according to the local palate.