bar
“bar” means “bar” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
bar, café
Also: counter
📝 In Action
Quedamos en el bar de la esquina a las ocho.
A1Let's meet at the corner bar at eight.
En España, es normal desayunar en un bar.
A2In Spain, it's normal to have breakfast at a bar/café.
Pídele otra ronda al camarero que está en el bar.
B1Ask the waiter who is at the counter for another round.
bar
📝 In Action
La presión del neumático debe ser de 2,5 bares.
B2The tire pressure should be 2.5 bars.
Un bar equivale a cien mil pascales.
C1One bar is equivalent to one hundred thousand pascals.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: bar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'bar' in the most common, everyday way in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
This word has two completely different origins. The common meaning, a place for drinks, was borrowed directly from the English word 'bar' in the 19th century. The scientific meaning, a unit of pressure, was created by scientists from the Ancient Greek word 'βάρος' (báros), which means 'weight'.
First recorded: 19th century (from English)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Spanish 'bar' the same as an American 'bar'?
Not quite. While both serve drinks, a 'bar' in Spain is often more like a social hub or café. It's very common to go there for coffee in the morning, a sandwich for lunch, or tapas with friends. They are generally more all-day, all-ages places than a typical American bar which might be more focused on alcohol and nightlife.
How do I know which 'bar' someone is talking about?
Context is everything! If people are talking about making plans, drinks, or food, they mean the place. If they are talking about tire pressure, weather, or science, they mean the unit of measurement. In 99.9% of conversations, it will be the first meaning.