arroyo
/aˈroʝo/masculine
The English phrase 'creek' can be translated into Spanish as arroyo or riachuelo.
Meaning: stream of water (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| arroyo | /aˈroʝo/ | masculine |
| riachuelo | /rjaˈt͡ʃwelo/ |
Both words refer to a stream of water.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of arroyo is arroyos, while the plural form of riachuelo is riachuelos.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈroʝo/
Did you know?
- The word arroyo comes from the Latin word arrugia, which actually meant a 'mineshaft'.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, an arroyo refers specifically to a dry creek bed that only fills with water during the rainy season.
- Spanish has a related word arroyuelo which is an even smaller version of arroyo, demonstrating the language's love for nested diminutives.
Examples in context
- Él no se atrevió a saltar por encima del arroyo.He did not dare to jump over the creek.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use the word arroyo in a sentence.Tatoeba #13688808 by mervert1, translation #4450284 by Will
- El riachuelo que atraviesa el paisaje desértico es una fuente de vida en esta región.The creek that runs through the desert landscape is a source of life in this region.
- El arroyuelo que bordea el jardín del castillo brinda una atmósfera serena al lugar.The creek that borders the castle garden provides a serene atmosphere to the place.
- Vamos a nadar en el arroyo cerca del pueblo.Let's go swimming in the creek near the town.
- Caminamos junto a la acequia disfrutando del sonido del agua.We walked alongside the creek, enjoying the sound of the water.
- El agua del arroyo está muy fría.The water in the creek is very cold.
- Vimos un pequeño arroyo en el bosque.We saw a small creek in the forest.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are hiking in a nature reserve.
- LucíaMira, hay un arroyo cerca del sendero.Look, there is a creek near the trail.
- MateoEs muy bonito, Lucía.It is very beautiful, Lucía.
- Lucía¿Quieres beber agua de ese arroyo?Do you want to drink water from that creek?
- MateoNo, mejor busquemos agua embotellada.No, let's look for bottled water instead.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “creek” translations and entries arroyo, riachuelo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries arroyo, riachuelo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
