Biobío
/ˌbiː.oʊˈbiː.oʊ/noun
A river and region in south-central Chile.
Did you know?Biobío is a Mapuche-associated place-name, but scholars and reference sources do not agree on one definitive literal translation; popular explanations connect it with the sound or movement of flowing water.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Colonial Period
Mapudungun
Biobío
“Indigenous name associated with the river; the precise original meaning is uncertain.”
16th Century
Spanish
Biobío
“Spanish colonial records adopted the Indigenous river-name in forms such as Biobío and Bio-Bio.”
17th–18th Centuries
Colonial Spanish
Río Biobío
“The name was used for the major river forming an important frontier zone between Spanish-held territory and Mapuche territory.”
19th Century
Spanish
Biobío
“The name became attached to the surrounding Chilean province and administrative region.”
Modern English
English
Biobío
“A Chilean river and region, usually retaining the Spanish spelling and accent.”