The word barrio means "neighborhood" in Spanish, and in most Spanish-speaking places, that's exactly what it means. In Cuba and Spain, barrios are official divisions of municipalities.

What does a barrio mean in English?

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.

What is the origin of the word barrio?

Word History: In Spanish, the word barrio means simply "neighborhood." In the United States, however, the word barrio is most often used to describe a Spanish-speaking neighborhood within a city and is derived from the Arabic noun barr, meaning "land, open country." The Arabic adjective corresponding to this noun is ...