Noun
/bár.ba/
The word “barba” refers primarily to the hair that grows on the chin, cheeks, and jaw area of a man's face. In a broader sense, it can refer to any facial hair. In botany, “barba” can refer to certain types of hair or bristles on plants. It is commonly used in both oral and written communication in Spanish-speaking countries, particularly in discussions about grooming or style.
“Barba” enjoys a moderate frequency of use in everyday language, particularly in discussions about personal grooming, culture, and fashion. It sees a balanced mixture of usage in both oral conversation and written contexts.
Él decidió dejarse la barba larga.
He decided to grow his beard long.
La barba de su abuelo era muy blanca.
His grandfather's beard was very white.
Las modas en el cuidado de la barba han cambiado.
Fashion in beard care has changed.
The word “barba” is found in various idiomatic expressions in Spanish, often invoking cultural notions of masculinity, identity, or wisdom.
No tengo pelos en la lengua, te lo digo a la cara, barba o no.
I have no filter; I'll tell you to your face, beard or not.
Con la llegada de la barba, se él se siente como un hombre nuevo.
With the arrival of the beard, he feels like a new man.
No hay nada como una barba bien cuidada para proyectar confianza.
There's nothing like a well-groomed beard to project confidence.
El que tiene barba, tiene autoridad.
He who has a beard has authority.
A él le gusta contar historias sobre su barba y cómo la lleva desde joven.
He likes to tell stories about his beard and how he’s had it since he was young.
The word “barba” originates from the Latin word “barba”, which also means beard. This Latin term is rooted in Proto-Indo-European “*bhergh-”, meaning "to shine" or "to be bright," suggesting a link to the visibility of facial hair.