bárbaro
“bárbaro” means “great” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
great, awesome
Also: incredible
📝 In Action
¡Qué bárbaro! Ganaste el partido.
A1That's awesome! You won the game.
La comida estuvo bárbara, muchas gracias.
A2The food was great, thank you very much.
Tuvimos una suerte bárbara con el clima.
B1We had incredible luck with the weather.
savage, barbaric
Also: cruel
📝 In Action
Fue un ataque bárbaro contra civiles.
B2It was a barbaric attack against civilians.
No seas bárbaro, usa el tenedor.
B1Don't be a savage, use your fork.
Las condiciones en la mina eran bárbaras.
C1The conditions in the mine were savage.
barbarian
📝 In Action
Los bárbaros invadieron Roma.
B2The barbarians invaded Rome.
El museo tiene artefactos de los bárbaros.
B1The museum has artifacts from the barbarians.
Eran vistos como bárbaros por los griegos.
C1They were seen as barbarians by the Greeks.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: bárbaro
Question 1 of 3
If someone says '¡La película estuvo bárbara!', how did they feel about the movie?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'barbarus', which came from a Greek word used to describe anyone who didn't speak Greek. The Greeks thought foreign languages sounded like 'bar-bar-bar', so they called the people 'barbaros'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'bárbaro' an insult?
It can be! If you call someone a 'bárbaro' because they have bad manners or are being mean, it's an insult. But if you say '¡Qué bárbaro!' because they did something amazing, it's a compliment.
Do people use this word in all Spanish-speaking countries?
Yes, but the 'positive' meaning (fantastic/great) is especially common in Argentina, Uruguay, and Spain. In other places, people might prefer 'chévere', 'guay', or 'padre'.
Can I use 'bárbaro' to describe a large amount of something?
Yes! You can say 'Hace un frío bárbaro' (It's incredibly cold) to emphasize that the intensity is very high.