How to Say "bar" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “bar” is “bar” — use 'bar' when referring to an establishment that serves drinks and often food, similar to an English 'bar' or 'pub'..
bar
/bar//ˈbaɾ/
Examples
Quedamos en el bar de la esquina a las ocho.
Let's meet at the corner bar at eight.
En España, es normal desayunar en un bar.
In Spain, it's normal to have breakfast at a bar/café.
Pídele otra ronda al camarero que está en el bar.
Ask the waiter who is at the counter for another round.
La presión del neumático debe ser de 2,5 bares.
The tire pressure should be 2.5 bars.
Gender: It's a Masculine Noun
Even though it doesn't end in '-o', 'bar' is a masculine word. So, you always say 'el bar' (the bar) or 'un bar' (a bar).
Confusing 'bar' with 'barra'
Mistake: “Me senté en el bar para beber.”
Correction: Me senté en la barra para beber. (I sat at the counter to drink.) While the first sentence is okay ('I sat in the bar...'), if you mean the physical counter, you need to use 'la barra'.
barra
BAH-rrah (Roll the 'rr' sound strongly)/ˈba.rra/
Examples
Pedimos dos cervezas directamente en la barra.
We ordered two beers directly at the bar counter.
No encontramos mesa, así que comimos en la barra.
We couldn't find a table, so we ate at the counter.
El ladrón usó una barra de hierro para abrir la caja fuerte.
The thief used an iron bar to open the safe.
Compramos una barra de pan integral.
We bought a loaf of whole wheat bread. (A long, stick-like loaf)
Gender Reminder
Even though 'bar' (the place) is often 'el bar', the counter/surface is always feminine: 'la barra'.
Metaphorical Extension
The word 'barra' is used for anything long, straight, and solid, including a loaf of bread ('barra de pan') or a stick of makeup ('barra de labios').
mostrador
/mohs-trah-DOHR//mostɾaˈðoɾ/
Examples
Por favor, deje su maleta en el mostrador.
Please, leave your suitcase on the counter.
El dependiente está atendiendo a un cliente en el mostrador.
The shop assistant is helping a customer at the counter.
No hay nadie en el mostrador de información.
There is no one at the information desk.
Gender Identification
Words ending in -dor are almost always masculine, so you'll use 'el' or 'un' with them.
The '-dor' Suffix
In Spanish, adding -dor to a verb often creates a noun for a person or a place that performs that action. It comes from 'mostrar' (to show), so it literally means 'the place where things are shown'.
Mostrador vs. Escritorio
Mistake: “Using 'mostrador' to refer to your personal desk at home.”
Correction: Use 'escritorio' for a private work desk and 'mostrador' for a public service counter.
barra
BAH-rrah (Roll the 'rr' sound strongly)/ˈba.rra/
Examples
El ladrón usó una barra de hierro para abrir la caja fuerte.
The thief used an iron bar to open the safe.
Pedimos dos cervezas directamente en la barra.
We ordered two beers directly at the bar counter.
No encontramos mesa, así que comimos en la barra.
We couldn't find a table, so we ate at the counter.
Compramos una barra de pan integral.
We bought a loaf of whole wheat bread. (A long, stick-like loaf)
Gender Reminder
Even though 'bar' (the place) is often 'el bar', the counter/surface is always feminine: 'la barra'.
Metaphorical Extension
The word 'barra' is used for anything long, straight, and solid, including a loaf of bread ('barra de pan') or a stick of makeup ('barra de labios').
pastilla
/pas-TEE-yah//pasˈtiʝa/
Examples
Compré una pastilla de jabón con olor a lavanda.
I bought a bar of soap with a lavender scent.
Añade una pastilla de caldo a la sopa.
Add a bouillon cube (stock block) to the soup.
pub
/pab//pab/
Examples
Quedamos en el pub a las ocho.
Let's meet at the pub at eight.
Este pub tiene muy buena música en directo.
This pub has very good live music.
Hay un pub irlandés muy famoso en el centro.
There is a very famous Irish pub downtown.
A Borrowed Word
This word is taken directly from English. Even though it's borrowed, it behaves like a normal Spanish masculine word: use 'el' or 'un'.
Making it Plural
To talk about more than one, simply add an 's' to get 'pubs'.
Pronunciation
Mistake: “Pronouncing it exactly like English 'pub'.”
Correction: In Spanish, the 'u' usually sounds more like a short 'a' (pab) or sometimes a soft 'u' (poob), depending on where you are.
bar
/bar//ˈbaɾ/
Examples
La presión del neumático debe ser de 2,5 bares.
The tire pressure should be 2.5 bars.
Quedamos en el bar de la esquina a las ocho.
Let's meet at the corner bar at eight.
En España, es normal desayunar en un bar.
In Spain, it's normal to have breakfast at a bar/café.
Pídele otra ronda al camarero que está en el bar.
Ask the waiter who is at the counter for another round.
Gender: It's a Masculine Noun
Even though it doesn't end in '-o', 'bar' is a masculine word. So, you always say 'el bar' (the bar) or 'un bar' (a bar).
Confusing 'bar' with 'barra'
Mistake: “Me senté en el bar para beber.”
Correction: Me senté en la barra para beber. (I sat at the counter to drink.) While the first sentence is okay ('I sat in the bar...'), if you mean the physical counter, you need to use 'la barra'.
barra
BAH-rrah (Roll the 'rr' sound strongly)/ˈba.rra/
Examples
Recuerda usar la barra inclinada en la dirección web.
Remember to use the forward slash in the web address.
Pedimos dos cervezas directamente en la barra.
We ordered two beers directly at the bar counter.
No encontramos mesa, así que comimos en la barra.
We couldn't find a table, so we ate at the counter.
El ladrón usó una barra de hierro para abrir la caja fuerte.
The thief used an iron bar to open the safe.
Gender Reminder
Even though 'bar' (the place) is often 'el bar', the counter/surface is always feminine: 'la barra'.
Metaphorical Extension
The word 'barra' is used for anything long, straight, and solid, including a loaf of bread ('barra de pan') or a stick of makeup ('barra de labios').
Bar vs. Barra: Place vs. Counter
Related Translations
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