barrido
/baˈrido/
The Spanish word for sweeping is barrido.
barrido is an adjective used to describe something that is wide, broad or affecting many things.
Meaning: wide, broad, affecting many things (adj)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Dominican Republic, the form barrir is used to mean sweeping, though this is considered non-standard Spanish.
How do you pronounce it?
/baˈrido/
Did you know?
- In photography, barrido describes a 'panning shot' where the camera moves with a subject to create a blurred background.
- In certain Spanish-speaking regions, a 'barrido' can refer to a 'sweep' in a political sense, such as a landslide victory in an election. This describes a political movement that effectively 'clears' the competition from the field.
- In some Latin American countries, a 'barrido' can colloquially refer to a thorough search or a complete inspection of a location by authorities.
Examples in context
- Yo necesito barrer el piso antes de la fiesta.I need to sweep the floor before the party.
- La empleada de limpieza está barriendo el jardín.The cleaning lady is sweeping the garden.
- ¿Me ayudas a limpiar con la escoba?Can you help me with the sweeping?
- Mi mamá siempre me obligaba a limpiar con la escoba cuando era niño.My mom always made me sweep as a child.
- Voy a pasar la escoba antes de que lleguen los invitados.I'm going to sweep before the guests arrive.
- No te olvides de pasar la escoba en la terraza también.Don't forget to sweep the terrace too.
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are discussing a new company policy.
- SofíaHe leído el nuevo reglamento, Alejandro.I have read the new regulations, Alejandro.
- AlejandroParece un cambio barrido para toda la oficina.It seems like a sweeping change for the whole office.
- SofíaSí, afecta a todos los departamentos.Yes, it affects all departments.
- AlejandroEsperemos que los resultados sean positivos.Let's hope the results are positive.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry barrido, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
