wadi

American  

[wah-dee] / ˈwɑ di /

Also wady

noun

plural

wadis

1. the channel of a watercourse that is dry except during periods of rainfall.

2. such a stream or watercourse itself.

3. a valley.

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wadi British  

/ ˈwɒdɪ /

noun

1. a watercourse in N Africa and Arabia, dry except in the rainy season

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wadi Scientific  

/ wä′dē /

1. A gully or streambed in northern Africa and southwest Asia that remains dry except during the rainy season.

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Etymology

Origin of wadi

First recorded in 1830–40, wadi is from the Arabic word wādī

Explanation

A wadi is a low, dry valley. The term wadi is most commonly used in Arabic-speaking parts of the world. This word wadi is mainly used to describe valleys and dry creeks and riverbeds in the Middle East and North Africa. A wadi might be a stream during the rainy season and a dry ravine during the rest of the year. Wadi comes from the Arabic wādī‎, "river" or "watercourse," and it appears in many place names — for example, Guadalajara comes from the Arabic wādī al-hidjārah, "river of stones."

Example Sentences

"If a huge flood happens the result will be catastrophic for the people of the wadi and the city," the paper said.

From Reuters • Sep. 12, 2023

Umm al-Hiran lies in a wadi, or small valley, not far from the large town of Beersheba at the top end of the Negev desert.

From BBC • Oct. 18, 2012

One last stretch of exposed terrain remained, a shallow wadi we had crossed to get to Devon Hill.

From New York Times • Feb. 1, 2012

“It shows a very strong sensitivity to the geology in the choice of colors for the rock, and also in the little colored spots that represent the gravel on the wadi floor,” Harrell said.

From National Geographic

The last part of their ride, they were told, would be in the bed of a wadi; then over a ridge; and then the Devil's Well.

From The Treasure of the Tigris A Tale of Mesopotamia by Ferryman, A. F. Mockler