Inklingo
Dictionary

barroco

bah-RRO-kohbaˈroko

“barroco” means “Baroque” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:

BaroqueB1Adjective

referring to the artistic style or historical period

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overly complexC1Adjective

figurative use for complicated ideas or language

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The BaroqueB2Noun

referring to the era or the movement

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BaroqueAlso: ornate

AdjectivemB1
A highly decorative gold picture frame with intricate swirls and floral patterns.

📝 In Action

Visitamos una iglesia con un altar barroco impresionante.

B1

We visited a church with an impressive baroque altar.

Me encanta la música barroca de Vivaldi.

A2

I love Vivaldi's baroque music.

La literatura barroca española es muy rica y compleja.

B2

Spanish baroque literature is very rich and complex.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • recargado (overloaded/highly decorated)
  • ornamentado (ornamented)

Antonyms

  • minimalista (minimalist)
  • sencillo (simple)

Common Collocations

  • estilo barroco – baroque style
  • arte barroco – baroque art
  • música barroca – baroque music

overly complexAlso: busy

AdjectivemC1
A single piece of string tied into an incredibly large, messy, and complicated knot.

📝 In Action

Su forma de escribir es un poco barroca y difícil de seguir.

C1

His way of writing is a bit overly complex and hard to follow.

Ese vestido es demasiado barroco para una fiesta sencilla.

B2

That dress is too busy/ornate for a simple party.

No uses un lenguaje tan barroco, sé más directo.

C1

Don't use such complicated language; be more direct.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • complejo (complex)
  • enrevesado (convoluted)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • lenguaje barroco – convoluted language
  • explicación barroca – over-complicated explanation

The Baroque

NounmB2formal
A grand stone building with curved walls, many columns, and statues.

📝 In Action

El Barroco fue una época de grandes contrastes en España.

B2

The Baroque was an era of great contrasts in Spain.

Estamos estudiando el Barroco en mi clase de historia del arte.

B1

We are studying the Baroque in my art history class.

Muchos poetas famosos pertenecen al Barroco.

B2

Many famous poets belong to the Baroque period.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • el pleno barroco – the height of the baroque
  • maestro del barroco – master of the baroque

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "barroco" in Spanish:

baroquebusyornateoverly complexthe baroque

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: barroco

Question 1 of 3

Which of these things would most likely be described as 'barroco'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
barroquismo(baroque quality/style) — Noun
barroquista(baroque-style artist) — Noun
embarrocarse(to become overly complex) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes
pocolocotoco
📚 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)

French: baroqueItalian: barocco

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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.