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El Nino
/ɛl ˈniːnoʊ/
climatic phenomenon
The El Niño event caused severe droughts in Australia.
This refers to a specific weather pattern affecting global climates.
technical
A climate pattern characterized by the warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, leading to significant global weather changes.
El Niño typically occurs every 2 to 7 years and lasts 9 to 12 months.
This describes the frequency and duration of the phenomenon.
During El Niño, trade winds weaken, causing warm water to shift eastward.
This explains the oceanic mechanism behind the phenomenon.
El Niño is Spanish for 'the boy child,' named by Peruvian fishermen in reference to the Christ child, as it often peaks around Christmas.
Collocations
El Niño eventa specific occurrence of the phenomenonEl Niño conditionsprevailing weather patterns associated with the phenomenon
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Remembering the Difference
Think of 'El Niño' as the 'warm phase' (El Niño = warm) and 'La Niña' as the 'cool phase' (La Niña = cool) of the ENSO cycle.
Gold Rule
Capitalization
Always capitalize 'El Niño' as it is a proper noun derived from Spanish.
Word Origin
From Spanish 'El Niño' (the boy), originally referring to the Christ child, as the phenomenon often peaks around Christmas. The term was adopted by Peruvian fishermen in the 19th century to describe the warm ocean current.
Usage Notes
El Niño is always capitalized as it is a proper noun. It is often used in scientific contexts but also appears in general media discussing weather events.
Word Breakdown
El
the
articleNiño
boy
nounEnglish Dictionary