arroyo
UK: əˈrɔɪ.əʊ | US: əˈrɔɪ.oʊ
n. a steep-sided gully or channel formed by flash floods, typically found in arid or semi-arid regions.
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"Arroyo" is a direct loanword from Spanish, where it originally meant "stream" or "brook." It entered English in the early 19th century through American English, specifically in the context of the Southwestern U.S., where Spanish colonial influence was strong. The term evolved to describe the dry, ephemeral watercourses common in desert climates, reflecting the region's geography. Unlike compound words, "arroyo" retains its intact form as a borrowed term, with no separable morphemes in English.
After the heavy rain, the arroyo filled with rushing water.
Hikers should avoid camping in arroyos due to flash flood risks.
The desert landscape was crisscrossed with deep arroyos.
Local plants often thrive along the edges of dry arroyos.
The geologist studied sediment deposits in the ancient arroyo.