barroco
“barroco” means “Baroque” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
Baroque
Also: ornate
📝 In Action
Visitamos una iglesia con un altar barroco impresionante.
B1We visited a church with an impressive baroque altar.
Me encanta la música barroca de Vivaldi.
A2I love Vivaldi's baroque music.
La literatura barroca española es muy rica y compleja.
B2Spanish baroque literature is very rich and complex.
overly complex
Also: busy
📝 In Action
Su forma de escribir es un poco barroca y difícil de seguir.
C1His way of writing is a bit overly complex and hard to follow.
Ese vestido es demasiado barroco para una fiesta sencilla.
B2That dress is too busy/ornate for a simple party.
No uses un lenguaje tan barroco, sé más directo.
C1Don't use such complicated language; be more direct.
The Baroque
📝 In Action
El Barroco fue una época de grandes contrastes en España.
B2The Baroque was an era of great contrasts in Spain.
Estamos estudiando el Barroco en mi clase de historia del arte.
B1We are studying the Baroque in my art history class.
Muchos poetas famosos pertenecen al Barroco.
B2Many famous poets belong to the Baroque period.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: barroco
Question 1 of 3
Which of these things would most likely be described as 'barroco'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Portuguese word 'barroco', which refers to a pearl that is irregular or 'oddly shaped'. It eventually came to describe art that was unconventional and highly detailed.
First recorded: 18th century (in the sense of art criticism)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'barroco' always a compliment?
Not always. In art, it's a neutral description of a style. However, if someone calls your writing or explanation 'barroco', they might mean it's too complicated and hard to understand.
Does 'barroco' have anything to do with 'barro' (mud)?
No, they look similar but have completely different origins. 'Barro' means mud, while 'barroco' comes from a word for an irregular pearl.
What is a 'perla barroca'?
It is an actual jewelry term! It refers to a pearl that isn't perfectly round, but has an irregular, lumpy shape. This is actually where the word for the art style comes from.