barbacoa
“barbacoa” means “barbecue” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
barbecue, BBQ
Also: grill
📝 In Action
Limpiamos la barbacoa antes de cocinar las hamburguesas.
A1We cleaned the barbecue before cooking the burgers.
Compramos una barbacoa de carbón muy grande.
A2We bought a very large charcoal grill.
barbecue party, cookout
📝 In Action
Estás invitado a una barbacoa en mi casa este domingo.
A1You are invited to a barbecue at my house this Sunday.
barbacoa meat
📝 In Action
Los tacos de barbacoa son los mejores para el desayuno.
B1Barbacoa tacos are the best for breakfast.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "barbacoa" in Spanish:
barbacoa meat→barbecue→barbecue party→bbq→cookout→grill→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: barbacoa
Question 1 of 2
If someone invites you to 'una barbacoa' in Spain, what are they inviting you to?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Taíno (an indigenous Caribbean language) word 'barbacoa,' which described a wooden frame used for drying or smoking meat. Spanish explorers adopted the word, and it eventually became the root for the English 'barbecue.'
First recorded: 16th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'barbacoa' and 'parrilla'?
While often used interchangeably, 'barbacoa' usually refers to the whole event or a specific cooking style (sometimes including a lid), whereas 'parrilla' refers specifically to the metal grate or grill rack itself.
Is 'barbacoa' always meat?
Usually, yes. While the word describes the grill or the event, when referring to food, it almost always implies meat unless specified otherwise (like 'barbacoa de verduras').