barro

/BAH-rroh/

mud

A close-up image of a deep brown, wet mud puddle reflecting the light on the ground.

Barro can mean mud, like this wet earth.

barro(noun)

mA1

mud

wet earth

clay

material for pottery/bricks

Also:

mire

deep, thick mud

📝 In Action

Después de la tormenta, el camino estaba lleno de barro.

After the storm, the road was full of mud.

Usaron barro rojo para hacer las tejas del techo.

They used red clay to make the roof tiles.

Tuvimos que limpiar el barro de nuestras botas al entrar a la casa.

We had to clean the mud off our boots when entering the house.

Word Connections

Synonyms

lodo (mud)
arcilla (clay)

Common Collocations

olla de barro – clay pot
piso de barro – dirt/mud floor

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Noun

Remember that 'barro' is always a masculine noun, so it takes the article 'el' (el barro) and pluralizes to 'los barros'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Mud and Dirt

Mistake: "Using 'barro' when you mean dry dirt ('tierra')."

Correction: 'Barro' specifically means wet earth or mud. If it's dry, use 'tierra' or 'polvo' (dust).

⭐ Usage Tips

Clay vs. Mud

'Barro' can mean both 'mud' (wet dirt) and 'clay' (the material used for crafts). Context usually makes the meaning clear.

A magnified illustration of pale skin texture showing a single prominent red bump or pimple.

Another meaning for barro is a pimple or skin blemish.

barro(noun)

mB1

pimple

skin blemish

Also:

acne spot

dermatology

zit

very informal

📝 In Action

Me salió un barro enorme en la barbilla justo antes de la fiesta.

I got a huge pimple on my chin right before the party.

Ella usa una crema especial para combatir los barros y el acné.

She uses a special cream to fight pimples and acne.

Word Connections

Synonyms

grano (pimple (more common in Spain))
espinilla (blackhead/pimple)

💡 Grammar Points

Possession for Body Parts

When talking about body parts or blemishes, Spanish often uses 'me salió' (it appeared on me) instead of 'mi' (my) to show a pimple appeared on your body.

⭐ Usage Tips

Regional Use

If you are in Spain, use 'grano' instead of 'barro' when referring to a pimple, as 'barro' almost exclusively means 'mud' there.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: barro

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'barro' to mean a skin imperfection?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

barrizal(muddy area, quagmire) - noun

embarrar(to smear, to get muddy) - verb

barrero(clay pit, muddy place) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'barro' the same as 'tierra'?

No. 'Tierra' means dry dirt or soil. 'Barro' specifically means earth that is mixed with water, making it wet and soft (mud or clay).

Why does 'barro' mean 'pimple' in some countries?

This is a figurative extension. Because acne blemishes often look like small, raised spots of dirt or a pasty substance, the word for 'mud' or 'clay' was adopted informally in regions like Mexico and Central America to describe them.