bordillo

Bordillo is a Spanish noun that designates an edge, lip, or border that defines a boundary between surfaces or materials. The term is used across various disciplines to describe a raised or reinforcing edge that helps to contain, separate, or finish different elements in a constructed or decorative context.

In civil engineering and urban construction, bordillo most commonly refers to the curb or kerb along streets, sidewalks, and parking areas. This raised edge separates public thoroughfares from pedestrian zones, channels surface water toward drainage systems, and provides a physical barrier to prevent vehicles from encroaching on adjacent spaces. Bordillos can be made from concrete, stone, masonry, or precast materials, and they come in different profiles, including straight, curved, or stepped designs. A related form is the bordillo de contención, or retaining curb, used to manage changes in elevation and to stabilize slopes or embankments.

In architecture, interior design, and tiling, bordillo also denotes edging or border strips used to finish the boundary of a floor, wall, or countertop. These edging elements help create a clean transition between surfaces, protect the edges of tiles or flooring, and can serve decorative purposes by introducing color, texture, or material contrast.

Etymology and usage vary by Spanish-speaking country, but the core idea remains the same: a bordillo is a raised edge or border that defines limits, channels movement, or completes a finish. The term is often used interchangeably with curb, kerb, or edging, depending on regional preferences.