barco

Barco is the word used in Spanish and Portuguese to denote a boat or ship. It covers a wide range of vessels, from small rowboats to large merchant ships. The term is derived from the Latin barca, with cognates in other Romance languages such as Catalan barca and Italian barca.

Boats named barco vary by propulsion, construction, and purpose. Common types include el barco a vela (sailboat), el barco a motor (motorboat), fishing boats, cargo boats, and passenger ships. Historically built from wood, barcos today are often made of fiberglass, steel, or aluminum, and may be powered by oars, sails, motors, or a combination.

The term also appears in place names and surnames. In Galicia, Spain, the municipality O Barco de Valdeorras reflects the geographic use of the word. Barco also exists as a family name in Iberian and Portuguese-speaking regions.

Barco N.V., often simply Barco, is a Belgian multinational that designs and manufactures visualization, projection, and display technology for business, healthcare, and entertainment applications. The company produces projector systems, medical imaging displays, and large-format visualization tools, and operates worldwide with a focus on professional markets.