tornado
standard, Mexico
A tornado is tornado in Mexico, spelled the same as in English and stressed on the second syllable: "tor-NAH-do". A torbellino is a whirlwind or whirl of air that can be smaller.
Meaning: violently rotating column of air (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| tornado | standard, Mexico |
| torbellino | whirlwind |
News reports say un tornado tocó tierra when one touches down. In everyday speech torbellino can also describe a very busy person or a rush of activity.
Which one should you use?
Tornado is a specific storm word. Huracán is a different storm, a tropical cyclone, and Mexicans use it for storms on the coasts.
Did you know?
- English borrowed the word tornado from Spanish in the 1500s.
Examples in context
- Un tornado dañó varias casas.A tornado damaged several houses.
- Vimos un torbellino de polvo en el campo.We saw a whirlwind of dust in the field.
- El tornado se formó cerca de la frontera.The tornado formed near the border.
Example conversation
Abuela Rosa and her grandson Beto watch the news at home in Coahuila.
- BetoAbuela, dicen que hubo un tornado.Grandma, they say there was a tornado.
- Abuela Rosa¿Dónde fue?Where was it?
- BetoCerca de Piedras Negras.Near Piedras Negras.
- Abuela RosaAy, qué susto.Oh, what a scare.
