Spanish Conversation · Level 62
76 words
Spanish word
barco
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈbaɾko/
Meaning
- masculine nounboat
Example
¿Subes al barco conmigo?
Are you getting on the boat with me?
More examples
El barco sale del puerto a las ocho.
The boat leaves the port at eight.
Core concept
Vessel that carries people, cargo, or fishing gear across water.
Common phrases
subir al barco
board the boat
barco de pesca
fishing boat
barco mercante
merchant ship
Similar words
bote: Holds a few people and is usually rowed or lightly powered for short trips.
lancha: Skims nearshore waters as a nimble motorboat built for speed and maneuvering.
barca: Operates in shallow bays and rivers as a small traditional boat used for local fishing.
buque: Carries heavy cargo or long-distance passengers as a large ocean-going ship.
Definition in Spanish
Objeto o medio de transporte que se desplaza sobre el agua, usado para pesca, transporte comercial o actividades recreativas.
Word origin
Derived from Late Latin barca via Old Spanish barca, with the original sense 'small boat' expanding over time into a general term for a vessel.
Usage tips
- For small recreational craft Spanish speakers usually say bote or lancha, and buque is used for large commercial or naval ships, so choosing barco versus these terms affects register.
Other meanings
- shipnoun
- vesselnoun
Opposites
- tierralandnoun
Related words
- barquitolittle boatnoun
- embarcaciónvesselnoun
- barcazabargenoun