ria

ria, coastal inlet

noun REE-ah Rare

Origin: from Spanish ría 'river mouth'

Usage Note

Ria is a geographic term for a long narrow coastal inlet formed by a partially submerged river valley, distinct from a fjord (carved by ice). The Breton coast (ria d'Etel, ria de la Trinité) has several notable examples. The word is borrowed directly from Spanish.

Examples

"La ria se remplit à marée haute."

Natural Translation

The ria fills up at high tide.

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