barrio

noun

bar·​rio ˈbär-ē-ˌō 

ˈber-, 

ˈba-rē- 

plural barrios

1

: a ward, quarter, or district of a city or town in a Spanish-speaking country

2

: a Spanish-speaking quarter or neighborhood in a city or town in the U.S. especially in the Southwest

Examples of barrio in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Calderon elected to move from the church pulpit to work in the barrios, schools, city hall, and with community agencies. — Richard J. Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2026

Santiago has world-class museums, vibrant parks and plazas, bohemian barrios, buzzing nightlife, and a growing food scene to match those globe-conquering wines. — Mark Johanson, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 May 2026

Maduro’s removal could weaken Chavismo but not erase its networks in the military, bureaucracy and low-income barrios. — Robert Muggah, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2026

Maduro’s removal could weaken Chavismo but not erase its networks in the military, bureaucracy and low-income barrios. — Robert Muggah, The Conversation, 4 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Arabic barrī of the open country, from barr outside, open country

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for barrio

• lothario

Kids Definition

barrio

noun

bar·​rio ˈbär-ē-ˌō  ˈbar- 

plural barrios

: a neighborhood where most of the people speak Spanish