Spanish Conversation · Level 46
75 words
Spanish word
barca
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈbaɾka/
Meaning
- feminine nounboat
Example
Vamos en barca al otro lado del río.
We are going by boat to the other side of the river.
More examples
Pescar en barca es relajante.
Fishing from a boat is relaxing.
Core concept
Nearshore skiff carrying a few people or light cargo across a river or inlet.
Common phrases
barca de remos
rowboat
remar en barca
row in a boat
pescar en barca
fish from a boat
Similar words
barco: Large ocean or river ship designed to carry passengers or heavy cargo on long voyages.
bote: Compact boat moved by rowing or a tiny outboard motor, used for nearby trips.
embarcación: Generic watercraft covering boats and ships of any size.
canoa: Elongated boat propelled by single-blade paddles, typically paddled by one or two people.
Definition in Spanish
Embarcación menor, a menudo abierta, destinada al transporte corto de personas o de carga ligera en aguas poco profundas.
Word origin
Via Vulgar Latin from Latin barca, itself from earlier Mediterranean sources, and in Spanish it denotes a small craft used for short, shallow-water transport.
Usage tips
- When describing a short, local trip on a river, lake, or estuary, barca sounds more natural than barco or bote, which can suggest bigger boats or different uses.