garoa

Garoa, also written garoa, is the Portuguese term for drizzle—a light, fine rain that wets surfaces without developing into heavier showers. The word is widely used in both Brazilian and European Portuguese to describe rain of low intensity and small droplets, and it is common in everyday speech as well as weather reporting. In cultural usage, garoa can evoke a distinctive atmosphere, often associated with humidity, overcast skies, and a muted palate of sounds.

In meteorological terms, drizzle is characterized by small droplets and a low rate of precipitation. It tends to be widespread rather than localized, and can persist for extended periods even when the rainfall feels barely perceptible. Garoa can accompany fog or mist and is frequently linked to maritime or coastal climates, especially where air near the surface remains saturated.

Beyond its literal meaning, garoa appears in Brazilian and Portuguese literature, music, and cinema as a atmospheric or poetic device. The term is also used as a proper noun in various cultural and commercial projects in Lusophone countries, reflecting its evocative sense of weather and mood rather than a specific technical concept.

See also: drizzle, garúa (Spanish), meteorology of light precipitation.