riachuelo
/rjaˈt͡ʃwelo/
The English phrase "little river" can be translated into Spanish as riachuelo.
A riachuelo is a small, narrow stream of water flowing into a larger river or lake. You may also encounter the word Arroyo, which is typically used to refer to a smaller river or stream, similar to "creek" in English.
Which one should you use?
You can also use the phrase El río chiquito to mean "The little river".
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of riachuelo is riachuelos.
How do you pronounce it?
/rjaˈtʃwelo/
Did you know?
- While riachuelo sounds like a gentle stream, the term is famously used for the 'Riachuelo' river in Buenos Aires, which is known as one of the most polluted water bodies in the world.
- The suffix '-uelo' in riachuelo is a diminutive that can sometimes imply something is insignificant or even derogatory, not just small.
- Spanish has several words for 'river' based on size and flow, such as acequia for a man-made irrigation ditch, which is often mistaken for a riachuelo.
Examples in context
- El riachuelo es muy cristalino.The little river is very crystal clear.
- Caminamos junto al pequeño riachuelo.We walked along the little river.
- Hay un riachuelo en el bosque.There is a little river in the forest.
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are hiking in the mountains.
- Elena¿Escuchas el sonido del riachuelo?Do you hear the sound of the little river?
- DanielSí, está cerca de allí.Yes, it is near there.
- ElenaDaniel, mira qué agua tan limpia.Daniel, look how clean the water is.
- DanielEs un lugar muy bonito.It is a very beautiful place.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry riachuelo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
