IguazĂș
/iÉĄwaËsu/noun
A river and waterfall system on the border of Argentina and Brazil, famed for its vast series of cascades.
Did you know?The name preserves GuaranĂ knowledge of the landscape, while the waterfalls themselves became internationally famous through later Spanish and Portuguese naming traditions.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Colonial Period
GuaranĂ
y / Éš
âWaterâ
Pre-Colonial Period
GuaranĂ
guasu
âGreat, large, or immenseâ
16th Century
GuaranĂ
Yguasu
âGreat water, referring to the river and fallsâ
16thâ17th Century
Spanish
IguazĂș
âSpanish rendering of the GuaranĂ place-nameâ
Modern Portuguese
Portuguese
Iguaçu
âPortuguese form of the same GuaranĂ nameâ
Modern English
English
IguazĂș / Iguazu Falls
âThe internationally used name for the waterfall systemâ