barra invertida
/ˌbara imbeɾˈtida/feminine
In Spanish, the term for backslash is barra invertida. Wiktionary also lists barra inversa and barra oblicua inversa.
Meaning: punctuation mark (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| barra invertida | /ˌbara imbeɾˈtida/ | feminine |
| barra inversa | /ˌbara imˈbeɾsa/ | feminine |
| barra oblicua inversa | /bara oblikwa imbeɾsa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| barra revertida | /bara ɾebeɾtida/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| contrabarra | /kontɾabara/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
Which one should you use?
Barra invertida, barra inversa and barra oblicua inversa are all formal terms.
How does it change in a sentence?
All the listed forms are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌbara imbeɾˈtida/
Did you know?
- While barra invertida is the standard term, technical users in some regions use contrabarra, where the prefix contra acts like the English 'back' or 'counter'.
- In some technical contexts in Latin America, you might hear people call it diagonal invertida, treating it as a type of 'diagonal' rather than a 'bar'.
- The word barra for 'bar' is a direct relative of the English word 'bar', both descending from the same Vulgar Latin root.
Examples in context
- Para indicar una ubicación de archivo en una ruta de directorio, debes utilizar la barra invertida.To specify a file location in a directory path, you should use the backslash.
- Escribe una barra invertida antes de la letra.Write a backslash before the letter.
- ¿Esa es una barra invertida o una normal?Is that a backslash or a normal one?
- El código tiene una barra invertida mal colocada.The code has a misplaced backslash.
Example conversation
Sofía is helping Alejandro with a computer programming task.
- SofíaAlejandro, revisa si pusiste la barra invertida aquí.Alejandro, check if you put the backslash here.
- AlejandroNo, creo que puse una barra normal.No, I think I put a forward slash.
- SofíaCámbiala por una barra invertida para que funcione.Change it to a backslash so that it works.
- AlejandroTienes razón, Sofía, ahora ya funciona.You are right, Sofía, now it works.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “backslash” translations and entries barra invertida, barra inversa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries barra, CC BY-SA 4.0.
