noun
arroyo
uh-ROY-oh
Arroyo (noun) means a dry streambed or gully that only fills with water after heavy rain. Example: “Flash floods can turn a quiet arroyo into a raging torrent within minutes.”
noun
1
A dry streambed or gully that only fills with water after heavy rain.
"Flash floods can turn a quiet arroyo into a raging torrent within minutes."
"Across the field were the tents, and beyond them the brown cottonfields that stretched out of sight to the brown arroyo foothills and then the snow-capped Sierras in the morning air."
— Jack Kerouac (1957)
How to use arroyo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA desert gully that's usually dry but can flood suddenly.
When to use it
Mostly used in American English, especially in the Southwest.
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Word forms
- Plural
- arroyos
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Flash floods can turn a quiet _____ into a raging torrent within minutes.
Etymology
Borrowed directly from Spanish arroyo, meaning "stream" or "brook."
Rhymes for arroyo
See all rhymes for arroyo →Frequently asked questions
What does “arroyo” mean?
The word “arroyo” means a dry streambed or gully that only fills with water after heavy rain. In plain terms, a desert gully that's usually dry but can flood suddenly.
How do you pronounce “arroyo”?
“Arroyo” is pronounced uh-ROY-oh (/əˈɹɔɪ.oʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “arroyo” in a sentence?
Here is “arroyo” used in a sentence: “Flash floods can turn a quiet arroyo into a raging torrent within minutes.”
What part of speech is “arroyo”?
“Arroyo” is a noun.
Where does the word “arroyo” come from?
The word “arroyo” comes from Spanish. Borrowed directly from Spanish arroyo, meaning "stream" or "brook.".
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