bar
/bar/
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender: It's a Masculine Noun
Even though it doesn't end in '-o', 'bar' is a masculine word. So, you always say 'el bar' (the bar) or 'un bar' (a bar).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'bar' with 'barra'
Mistake: "Me senté en el bar para beber."
Correction: Me senté en la barra para beber. (I sat at the counter to drink.) While the first sentence is okay ('I sat in the bar...'), if you mean the physical counter, you need to use 'la barra'.
⭐ Usage Tips
More Than Just Drinks
In Spain, a 'bar' is a huge part of daily life. It's where people grab their morning coffee, have a quick lunch, or meet friends for tapas after work. It's often much more like a community café than a place just for alcohol.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: bar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'bar' in the most common, everyday way in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
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.