barf
C1Informal, Slang
Definition
Meaning
To vomit; to throw up the contents of one's stomach.
To express strong disgust or rejection, often metaphorically. Also used as a noun for vomit itself.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a humorous or emphatic slang term for vomiting. Strongly informal and considered somewhat crude, though not the strongest vulgar term. Often associated with a sudden, messy, or involuntary act.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood and used in both dialects, but is considered slightly more American in flavour and cultural association (e.g., linked to American teen/horror movies).
Connotations
Conveys a sense of suddenness, messiness, and often disgust. More likely to be used for humorous or hyperbolic effect than in serious medical contexts.
Frequency
More frequent in American English, especially in speech. In British English, alternatives like 'be sick', 'throw up', or 'puke' are equally or more common.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Subject + barf (intransitive)Subject + barf + up + Object (transitive)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Barf bag (a bag for airsickness)”
- “It makes me want to barf (expresses extreme disgust)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Highly inappropriate.
Academic
Highly inappropriate (except perhaps in sociological studies of slang).
Everyday
Common in informal speech among friends, family, or in humorous contexts. Not for polite or formal company.
Technical
Not used in medical terminology; clinicians use 'vomit', 'emesis', or 'regurgitate'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- After that dodgy curry, I spent the whole night barfing.
- The smell of the bins made him nearly barf.
American English
- The roller coaster made me want to barf.
- He barfed up his breakfast after taking the medication.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard; no common examples).
American English
- (Not standard; no common examples).
adjective
British English
- It was a barf-inducing sight.
- (Adjectival use is rare; 'barfy' is occasionally used).
American English
- That's the most barf-tastic movie I've ever seen.
- He had a barfy look on his face.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The baby barfed on the carpet.
- I feel sick. I might barf.
- The terrible smell from the drain made everyone feel like barfing.
- He drank too much and barfed in the taxi.
- The politician's hypocrisy is enough to make you barf.
- The film's special effects were so realistic, the gore made some viewers barf.
- She barfed up the entire narrative, rehashing old clichés without a hint of originality.
- The market barfed on the news of the merger, with shares plummeting 20%.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BARKing dog that then B**ARF**s up its dinner. The sound of the word is abrupt and harsh, like the action.
Conceptual Metaphor
REJECTION IS VOMITING (e.g., 'The audience barfed at the terrible film idea').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not a direct equivalent of 'рвать' in all contexts; 'barf' is more specific and informal. Avoid using it as a translation for medical or formal 'vomit'.
- The noun 'barf' corresponds to 'блюво́т(ин)а' (vulgar), not the standard 'рво́та'.
- Do not confuse with similar-sounding English words like 'bark' or 'bar'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in formal writing or speech.
- Incorrectly conjugating the past tense (it's regular: barfed, barfing).
- Overusing it instead of more neutral terms like 'was sick'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'barf' be LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is informal, slang, and considered somewhat crude or childish. It's not among the strongest vulgarities, but it is inappropriate for formal situations.
'Vomit' is the standard, neutral term. 'Puke' and 'barf' are both informal slang. 'Puke' is very common and direct, while 'barf' can sound slightly more humorous or childish.
Yes, though less common than the verb. For example: 'There was barf all over the floor.' It is equally informal as the verb.
Yes, it is understood and used, but it is perceived as an Americanism. British speakers might be more likely to say 'be sick', 'throw up', or 'puke'.