Arroyo (watercourse)

An arroyo (, from the Spanisharroyo (Spanish:, "brook") or wash is a dry watercourse that temporarily or seasonally fills and flows after sufficient rain. Flash floods are common in arroyos following thunderstorms. It is akin to the Catalanrambla, which stems from the Arabicrámla, "dry river".

Similar landforms are referred to as wadi (in North Africa and Western Asia), chapp in the Gobi, laagate in the Kalahari, donga in South Africa, nullah in India, fiumare in Italy, and dry valley in England.

The desert dry washbiome is restricted to the arroyos of the southwestern United States. Arroyos provide a water source to desert animals.