What Is the Barracks?

Barracks are usually a group of long buildings built to house military personnel or laborers. The English word comes via French from an old Spanish word "barraca", originally referring to temporary ...

What are barracks used for?

A barrack is a building where military personnel live. It's usually used in the plural, as barracks. It's also a verb — when soldiers lodge in barracks, they barrack there. Barrack comes from the Spanish barraca for "soldier's tent." Now it's more than a tent.

What are the barracks like in the army?

While there are high expectations for cleanliness and some restrictions, barracks living can be similar to apartment or dorm living, allowing service members quiet space to decompress, hang out with others, play videogames, and more.