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Definition of odessa barb
odessa barb
Plural:Odessa barbs
odessa barb Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
10
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A small, brightly colored freshwater cyprinid fish (Pethia padamya) native to central Myanmar, highly popular in the aquarium trade for the vivid red stripe extending horizontally along the bodies of the males.
Example
"The aquarist decided to add a school of Odessa barbs to the community tank because their bright red coloration contrasted beautifully with the green aquatic plants."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The name comes from Odessa, Ukraine, where the fish first appeared in the pet trade in the early 1970s, combined with 'barb', a common designation for many small cyprinid fishes. Its actual native habitat in central Myanmar was only formally identified by scientists in the early 2000s.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Odessa barb. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/odessa barb