cerro

Cerro is a term used in Spanish and Portuguese to denote a hill or small mountain. In geographic vocabulary, it describes elevated terrain and is widely employed in place names across the Iberian Peninsula and the Americas.

Etymology and usage: The word Cerro derives from the Spanish language, where it functions both as a common noun and as a component in toponyms. In many regions, Cerro appears as a standalone name for settlements or neighborhoods, and as part of longer names that describe nearby terrain.

Toponymy: Because cerros are common landscape features, numerous towns, districts, and geographic features bear the name Cerro or incorporate Cerro into their names, signalling proximity to an elevated form. The term is often paired with adjectives such as Alto, Grande, or Negro in place names.

Western usage: In addition to place names, Cerro appears in the natural description of landscapes and cartographic labeling, reinforcing its role as a basic geographic descriptor in Spanish-speaking regions.