Spanish word

barbacoa

Pronunciation

IPA/baɾβaˈkoa/

Meaning

  • feminine nounbarbecue

Example

¿Hacemos una barbacoa en el parque el sábado?

Shall we have a barbecue in the park on Saturday?

Illustration for barbacoa (barbecue)

More examples

¿Traes la ensalada a la barbacoa?

Can you bring the salad to the barbecue?

Core concept

People gathered outdoors around an open fire eating grilled meat.

Common phrases

  • ir a una barbacoa

    attend a barbecue

  • una barbacoa familiar

    a family barbecue

  • una barbacoa de carne

    a barbecue with meat

Similar words

asado: South American feast where large cuts of meat are slowly grilled over embers.
parrillada: Feast of assorted meats cooked on a grill or grate and served together.

Definition in Spanish

Comida y reunión al aire libre donde se cocina carne sobre fuego o carbón; puede referirse tanto al plato como al evento social.

Word origin

From Taíno barbakoa, adopted into Spanish during colonial times to name both cooking meat over an open fire and the outdoor meal and gathering around it.

Usage tips

  • In Spain and many countries barbacoa refers to the social barbecue event (hacer una barbacoa), while in parts of Mexico it names a specific slow-cooked pit meat, so expect regional differences.

Other meanings

  • barbecued meatnoun

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