río
nounCEFR A1
What does “río” mean in English?
river
river (a natural flowing watercourse that moves across land to the sea or a lake)
Example sentences
Hay un río grande en mi ciudad.
There is a big river in my city.
El río está frío en invierno.
The river is cold in winter.
¿Hay un río cerca de tu casa?
Is there a river near your house?
How to use it
Río is a masculine noun — always el río (never la río). It refers to a natural flowing watercourse. The written accent on the í is obligatory; without it the word becomes the unrelated verb form 'río' (I laugh), making the tilde a genuine meaning-changer.
Common mistake
English speakers sometimes write 'rio' without the accent — but 'rio' (unaccented) is the first-person present of reír (to laugh): 'yo río' = I laugh. Always write río with the tilde when you mean the watercourse.