English Reference

Word

barrio

Phoneticsbar·rio

US/ˈbɑɹioʊ/

UK/bˈæɹɪˌəʊ/

Definition

n. a neighborhood or district in a city, often with its own unique culture or history. It is a common word in Spanish-speaking countries to describe a specific area.

n. a district or neighborhood within a city, typically characterized by a distinct cultural or social identity. Often used in sociological or urban planning contexts to describe specific urban subunits.

Examples

“The old barrio is full of colorful houses and small shops.”

“Many tourists visit the historic barrio to experience the local traditions and street food.”

“The rapid gentrification of the waterfront barrio has led to a significant shift in the community's demographic makeup over the last decade.”

Examples

simple

“The old barrio is full of colorful houses and small shops.”

contextual

“Many tourists visit the historic barrio to experience the local traditions and street food.”

complex

“The rapid gentrification of the waterfront barrio has led to a significant shift in the community's demographic makeup over the last decade.”

Real-World Examples

“In second place, is Paseo de los Lagos in the La Finca development, located in the upmarket barrio of Pozuelo de Alarcón in Madrid, where a home costs an average of €11 million.”
The Local · 21 Aug 2026
“Volunteers in Barrio Oriente, meanwhile, said they needed a police escort to deliver aid to the area, given concerns about local gang violence.”
Al Jazeera · 15 Aug 2026

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish barrio, from Arabic بَرِّيّ (barriyy, “wild”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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English Reference