Do you speak a little Spanish when you say 'tornado'?

'Tornado' is a word borrowed from Spanish 'tronada'. The word entered the English language some time around 1556.

tornado [noun] [1556]

• a tropical thunderstorm
• a squall accompanying a thunderstorm in Africa
• a violent destructive whirling wind accompanied by a funnel-shaped cloud that progresses in a narrow path over the land
• a violent windstorm
• whirlwind

Meaning: a tropical thunderstorm; a squall accompanying a thunderstorm in Africa; a violent destructive whirling wind accompanied by a funnel-shaped cloud that progresses in a narrow path over the land.

Etymology: modification of Spanish tronada thunderstorm; from tronar to thunder; from Latin tonare thunder.

Topics: Weather.

Origin: From Spanish to English.

See 'tornado' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Spanish.

See more loan words from 1500s.