Morro

Morro is a term from Spanish and Portuguese meaning "hill" or "mound." As a geographical descriptor, it often identifies a prominent rise or promontory near a settlement, particularly along coastal areas.

In toponymy, Morro appears in many place names across Spain, Portugal, the Caribbean, and the Americas, reflecting the feature it denotes. In some cases, the name remains in common usage for a hill or fortress built at a headland.

Notable uses include Morro Bay, California, a coastal city with Morro Rock, a volcanic plug that guards the harbor. The rock and the bay derive their names from this prominent landform. In Cuba, the fortress Castillo de los Tres Reyes Magos del Morro, commonly known as El Morro, guards the entrance to Havana Bay and is a landmark of the city. In Brazil, Morro do Chapéu is a municipality in Bahia, and Morro de São Paulo is a popular village on the island of Tinharé in Bahia. In Puerto Rico, the historic fortress El Morro, or Castillo San Felipe del Morro, protects San Juan Bay and is part of the city’s well-known fortifications.

As a surname or personal name, Morro may appear in some cultures, though it is predominantly a geographic term. The word’s usage highlights how a simple landscape feature can become a widely disseminated toponym.