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A simple wooden sailboat with a large white sail floating on calm blue water under a bright sky.

barco

/BAR-ko/

NounmA1
ship?a large vessel for transport on water,boat?a general term for a water vessel

📝 In Action

El barco sale del puerto a las ocho.

A1

The ship leaves the port at eight.

Compramos un barco de pesca pequeño.

A2

We bought a small fishing boat.

El crucero es un barco de lujo muy grande.

B1

The cruise ship is a very large luxury ship.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • buque (ship (large))
  • navío (vessel, ship (more formal/literary))
  • embarcación (vessel, watercraft)

Common Collocations

  • viajar en barco – to travel by boat
  • subir al barco – to get on the boat
  • barco de vela – sailboat
  • barco de pesca – fishing boat

Idioms & Expressions

  • estar en el mismo barco – To be in the same situation, facing the same problems.

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Noun: 'el barco'

Remember that 'barco' is a masculine word, so you always use 'el' for 'the' (el barco) and 'un' for 'a' (un barco).

❌ Common Pitfalls

'Barco' vs. 'Bote'

Mistake: "Using 'bote' to talk about a large ship."

Correction: 'Barco' is a great general term for any ship or boat. 'Bote' usually means a very small boat, like a rowboat or dinghy.

⭐ Usage Tips

Your Go-To Word for Water Travel

When in doubt, 'barco' is a safe and common word for almost any kind of vessel on water. It covers everything from small boats to huge cruise ships.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: barco

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'barco' most appropriately?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

embarcar(to embark, to board) - verb
desembarcar(to disembark, to get off) - verb
embarcadero(pier, wharf) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'barco', 'buque', and 'bote'?

Think of them in terms of size. 'Bote' is the smallest, like a rowboat. 'Barco' is a general term for any boat or ship. 'Buque' specifically refers to a very large ship, often for cargo or military use. If you're not sure, 'barco' is almost always a safe choice.

How do I say 'to travel by boat'?

The most common way is 'viajar en barco'. For example, 'Fuimos a la isla en barco' (We went to the island by boat).