Rio Iguaçu
/ˈʁi.u iɡwaˈsu/noun
A major river in southern Brazil, famous for forming the Iguaçu Falls and flowing toward the Paraná River.
Did you know?Iguaçu comes from a Tupi-Guarani expression meaning “big water,” while Rio is ultimately descended from Latin rivus, meaning “stream” or “river.”
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
rīvus
“A stream, brook, or channel of flowing water”
Medieval Portuguese
Portuguese
rio
“A river, inherited from Latin rīvus”
Pre-colonial period
Tupi-Guarani
y guasu
“Big water; y meant water and guasu meant large or great”
16th–17th Century
Portuguese
Rio Iguaçu
“The river associated with the Tupi-Guarani “big water” name”
Modern English
English
Rio Iguaçu
“The Brazilian river renowned for the Iguaçu Falls”