"¡Qué bárbaro!"

Question

I've always understood "¡Qué bárbaro!" to mean "How awful (terrible)"...and this definition has always fit the context as I understood it (or did it?). I notice in the translator that this phrase can mean "how fantastic!" ... I'm assuming this meaning to be positive. Which is it? Can someone give me some context at to when it would be used properly?

It can be either. - annierats, Jan 19, 2015

Answer 1

It's a little like English: "Man, that's baaaad!" when you are expressing your admiration for something or someone.

Good answer. I did not think of it that way. Thanks. - sanlee, Jan 19, 2015

Yes, Daniela, you're baaaaad!!! (In a good way!) ;-) - Winkfish, Jan 19, 2015

And I know it!!! :) - Daniela2041, Jan 19, 2015

Hahahahahaha!!!! You're "the bomb"!!!! And I'll let you think on that for awhile! ;-) - Winkfish, Jan 20, 2015

Yeah, man I'm pure nuclear power!! - Daniela2041, Jan 21, 2015

Answer 2

Hi Kelly,

I find that Word Reference or RAE can give good answers to these questions. For example, here is the link to bárbaro in WR and if you scroll down, you can see a usages for extraordinary, wonderful and marvelous.

Click on Collins to find more informations.

WR bárbaro

thanks for the reference. I guess this would be considered a false cognate. - lkelly, Jan 19, 2015

Answer 3

¡ Que toro más bárbaro! significa un toro fuerte, estupendo y brutal también.

Answer 4

Not knowing the history of your understanding or when you used it, I cannot say your are wrong. It may be regional like bravo which is not a cheer of approbation in Colombia for example. You can check the definition here and the meaning is positive not negative like "How terrible!" By the way this site, Wordreference.com, is a great online resource.

bárbaro

Thanks for the reference. I had always been interpreting it as sarcastic in the context I heard ... I think I missed the boat. - lkelly, Jan 19, 2015

Answer 5

I like to think of the word "awful," literally "full of awe." One can be full of awe at someone or something in a positive way or in a negative way. Over the years, however, it is much more commonly used in the negative way. (As taught by my Latin teacher when we were translating Caesar's Gallic Wars.)