What is Leg of pork called in the United States?

In the United States, Leg of pork is known as Ham.

What is Leg of pork called in Mexico?

In Mexico, Leg of pork is known as Pierna de cerdo.

What is Leg of pork called in Argentina?

In Argentina, Leg of pork is known as Jamón fresco.

What is Leg of pork called in France?

In France, Leg of pork is known as Jambon.

What is Leg of pork called in Spain?

In Spain, Leg of pork is known as Jamón.

What is Leg of pork called in Portugal?

In Portugal, Leg of pork is known as Presunto.

What is Leg of pork called in Brazil?

In Brazil, Leg of pork is known as Pernil.

What is Leg of pork called in Italy?

In Italy, Leg of pork is known as Cosciotto di maiale.

What is Leg of pork called in Germany?

In Germany, Leg of pork is known as Schweinekeule.

What part of the pork does Leg of pork come from?

Leg of pork comes from the Leg section of the pork.

Leg of pork

Pork · Leg

RoastCure

Also called

🇺🇸Ham🇲🇽Pierna de cerdo🇦🇷Jamón fresco🇫🇷Jambon🇪🇸Jamón🇵🇹Presunto🇧🇷Pernil🇮🇹Cosciotto di maiale🇩🇪Schweinekeule🇬🇧Gammon↗🇩🇪Westfälischer Schinken↗🇮🇹Prosciutto crudo↗🇫🇷Jambon de Bayonne↗🇪🇸Jamón ibérico de bellota↗🇩🇪Schwarzwälder Schinken↗🇵🇹Presunto de Barrancos↗

→ See all Leg of pork substitutes by country

The pork leg is a large, lean, and muscular primal cut from the hind of the animal. Fresh it is roasted whole as a celebratory centerpiece. Cured and aged it becomes some of the world's most prized products — Jamón Ibérico in Spain, Prosciutto di Parma in Italy, Presunto in Portugal. When smoked it becomes the familiar holiday ham of North American tables.

Names by country

Country	Name	Notes
🇺🇸United States	Ham	In the US 'ham' almost always implies cured or smoked; fresh leg is sold as 'fresh ham'
🇬🇧United Kingdom	Leg of porkprimary
🇲🇽Mexico	Pierna de cerdo	Often slow-roasted whole for celebrations
🇦🇷Argentina	Jamón fresco
🇫🇷France	Jambon
🇪🇸Spain	Jamón	In Spain jamón refers specifically to the cured leg — Jamón Serrano or Jamón Ibérico
🇵🇹Portugal	Presunto	Presunto is the cured form; fresh leg is perna de porco
🇧🇷Brazil	Pernil	Classic Brazilian Christmas roast, slow-cooked with citrus and herbs
🇮🇹Italy	Cosciotto di maiale	Used fresh ('cosciotto') or cured to make prosciutto.
🇩🇪Germany	Schweinekeule	Cured/smoked version is 'Schweineschinken'.

Find Leg of pork near you

In the US, this cut is usually sold as Ham — ask your butcher for that. It's most likely to be stocked by a good local butcher.

Find a good local butcher near you

Opens Google Maps at your location. Availability varies by shop — call ahead for specialty cuts.

Similar cuts

Leitão da Bairradaapproximate

Whole-animal preparation; the leg/haunch is the most-eaten part when the spit-roasted leitão is sliced and served.

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Picanha suínaapproximate

Same anatomical primal — picanha suína is butchered from the upper rump end of the pork leg, keeping the fat cap. Most leg-of-pork butchery trims the cap; the picanha cut deliberately preserves it.

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