barba

/BAR-bah/

beard

A thick beard, or facial hair, is called "barba."

barba(noun)

fA1

beard

facial hair

Also:

whiskers

animal facial hair

chin

less common, regional usage, often replaced by 'barbilla'

📝 In Action

Mi tío se dejó crecer la barba durante las vacaciones.

My uncle let his beard grow during the holidays.

Llevaba una barba larga y canosa, como un sabio.

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

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

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!')

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Check

Even though 'barba' ends in '-a' (which usually means feminine), remember that Spanish nouns referring to body parts are almost always used with definite articles (la barba, el brazo) instead of possessives (mi barba) when the owner is clear from the sentence.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Beard vs. Mustache

Mistake: "Using 'barba' when you only mean the hair above the lip."

Correction: Use 'bigote' (mustache) for hair only above the lip, and 'barba' for hair on the chin and cheeks.

⭐ Usage Tips

Describing the Look

To describe someone who is bearded, use the adjective 'barbudo/a'. Example: 'Es un hombre barbudo' (He is a bearded man).

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

"Barba" can also refer to the sharp barb on a hook or arrow.

barba(noun)

fB2

barb

pointy part of a hook or arrow

Also:

fluke

part of an anchor

📝 In Action

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

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

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

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

💡 Grammar Points

Specialized Context

This definition is usually only heard when talking about fishing gear, arrows, or specialized tools. If you are talking about people, 'barba' almost always means 'beard'.

✏️ 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

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).