barlovento

Barlovento is a Spanish term meaning the windward side or direction relative to a vessel. In nautical usage, barlovento refers to the direction from which the wind is blowing; the opposite is sotavento (leeward).

Beyond its maritime meaning, Barlovento is used as a place name in the Spanish-speaking world. The most prominent example is a municipality on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, Spain. There is also a municipality named Barlovento in Venezuela, located in the state of Miranda.

As a toponym, the name Barlovento likely reflects historical associations with winds, coastlines, or exposure to prevailing winds, though exact origins may vary by place. Today, the term is encountered primarily in nautical contexts and in the names of geographic locations.