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barba

BAR-bah/ˈbaɾβa/

“barba” means “beard” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

beard

Also: whiskers, chin
NounfA1
SpainMexico
A close-up illustration of a friendly man's face featuring a full, neatly trimmed brown beard.

📝 In Action

Mi tío se dejó crecer la barba durante las vacaciones.

A1

My uncle let his beard grow during the holidays.

Llevaba una barba larga y canosa, como un sabio.

A2

He wore a long, gray beard, like a wise man.

El gato tiene unas barbas muy sensibles que le ayudan a orientarse.

B1

The cat has very sensitive whiskers that help it orient itself.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • barbilla (chin (or goatee))

Common Collocations

  • dejarse barba – to grow a beard
  • afeitarse la barba – to shave one's beard
  • barba de chivo – goatee

Idioms & Expressions

  • Verle la barba al diablo – To have a close call or narrowly escape danger.
  • Por la barba de... – An oath or exclamation of surprise/emphasis (like 'By Jove!')

barb

Also: fluke
NounfB2technical
A detailed illustration of the tip of a silver fishing hook, clearly showing the sharp, backward-pointing barb near the point.

📝 In Action

La barba del anzuelo evita que el pez se escape fácilmente.

B2

The barb of the hook prevents the fish from easily escaping.

Asegúrate de que la barba de la flecha esté afilada antes de cazar.

C1

Make sure the barb of the arrow is sharp before hunting.

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "barba" in Spanish:

barb→beard→chin→fluke→whiskers→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: barba

Question 1 of 2

Which word would you use if a man only has hair above his lip, but not on his chin?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
barbudo/a(bearded) — Adjective
barbero/a(barber) — Noun
barbilla(chin) — Noun
bigote(mustache) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
garrajarra
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes directly from the Latin word *barba*, which also meant 'beard'. This root is shared across many Romance languages.

First recorded: 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: barbaFrench: barbePortuguese: barba

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'barba' the same as 'barbilla'?

No, they are related but different. 'Barba' refers to the facial hair (the beard). 'Barbilla' refers to the actual body part, the chin. Sometimes people use 'barba' to mean chin, but 'barbilla' is usually clearer and more precise for the bone structure.

If I want to say someone is unshaven (stubble), what word should I use?

You can use 'barba de tres días' (three-day beard/stubble) or the noun 'barbita' (little beard/stubble), or simply say 'está sin afeitar' (he is unshaven).