arroyo
/aˈroʝo/
The English word 'stream' can be translated into Spanish as arroyo, depending on whether you are referring to the physical body of water or its movement. Wiktionary also lists corriente and flujo.
Meaning: small river (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| arroyo | /aˈroʝo/ | |
| corriente | /koˈrjente/ | feminine |
| flujo | /ˈfluxo/ | masculine |
In a geographical context, arroyo is the most common way to refer to a small, natural stream or brook. If you wish to speak of the action of flowing, you can use the related verb fluir.
Which one should you use?
The different forms of 'stream' in Spanish specify different aspects of the water. Arroyo refers to the physical body of water itself (the stream), whereas corriente refers to the movement or current of the water within it. Additionally, flujo is used to describe the continuous movement or the rate of a liquid (the flow) rather than the geographical feature.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Corriente is a feminine noun, and flujo is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈroʝo/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, you might hear the word corriente used to describe someone who is 'ordinary' or 'common', rather than just a water current.
- The word arroyo comes from the Latin arrugia, which referred to a 'mineshaft' rather than a natural stream.
- In some Latin American countries, arroyo can refer to the gutter or the drainage channel along a city street.
Examples in context
- La pelota rodó hasta el arroyo.The ball rolled into the stream.This sentence shows how to use arroyo when describing an object moving into the water.Tatoeba #1534637 by marcelostockle, translation #19553 by papabear
- Tom siguió el arroyo por un par de kilómetros.Tom followed the stream for a couple of kilometers.This sentence demonstrates following the path of an arroyo over a distance.Tatoeba #1287974 by marcelostockle, translation #1094071 by CK
- El flujo de sangre suele ser constante y continuo.The blood stream is usually constant and continuous.This sentence uses flujo to describe the continuous movement of a liquid.Tatoeba #1152464 by marcelostockle, translation #1152467 by marcelostockle
- El riachuelo atraviesa el bosqueThe stream crosses the forest
- El riachuelo se desborda cuando llueve mucho.The stream overflows when it rains a lot.
- El arroyo desemboca en el ríoThe stream flows into the river
- Me encanta el sonido del agua corriendo por el arroyo.I love the sound of water running through the stream.
- La corriente arrastraba los troncosThe stream was carrying the logs
- Vamos a nadar en la corriente del río.Let's swim in the river's stream.
- Vamos a pescar cerca del arroyitoLet's go fishing near the stream.
- El arroyito está lleno de pececillos coloridos.The little stream is full of colorful fish.
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and María are walking in a forest.
- DanielMira aquel arroyo de agua cristalina.Look at that stream of crystal clear water.
- MaríaEs muy hermoso, Daniel.It is very beautiful, Daniel.
- DanielPodemos beber agua de este arroyo.We can drink water from this stream.
- MaríaNo, es mejor buscar agua segura.No, it is better to look for safe water.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stream” translations and entries arroyo, corriente, flujo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries arroyo, corriente, flujo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
