Rios

Rios can refer to two related concepts in Spanish-language usage. The first is the plural form of rio, the word for river. In geographic descriptions, hydrological terminology, and place names across Spanish-speaking regions, ríos denotes more than one river.

The second use is as a surname. Ríos is a common Spanish-language family name with topographic or locational origins, typically originating from a residence near a river or from a place named after a river. The accent on the i reflects standard Spanish pronunciation; in many English-speaking countries the name is rendered without the accent as Rios.

Variants and related forms include Río as a surname in its own right (less common) and compound surnames such as Del Río or De los Ríos, which indicate origin from rivers. The surname has spread widely through migration within Spain and into the Americas, and is now present in many countries with Hispanic communities.

In addition to personal names, the term Ríos appears in literature, media, and geographic discourse as a surname or in toponymy. See also Río, Del Río, and De los Ríos for related topics.