First Known Use: 1896
Dictionary
El Niño
noun El Ni·ño \el-ˈnē-nyō\
: a flow of unusually warm water along the western coast of South America that causes many changes in weather in other places (such as a lot of rain in areas that are usually dry)
plural El Niños
Full Definition of EL NIÑO
: an irregularly recurring flow of unusually warm surface waters from the Pacific Ocean toward and along the western coast of South America that prevents upwelling of nutrient-rich cold deep water and that disrupts typical regional and global weather patterns — compare la niña
See El Niño defined for English-language learners
See El Niño defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of EL NIÑO
Spanish, literally, the child (i.e., the Christ child); from the appearance of the flow at the Christmas season
Learn More About EL NIÑO
Browse
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up El Niño? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).