lago

Lago is a common noun in Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese that means "lake." It denotes a substantial body of freshwater surrounded by land, natural or artificial. The term also appears in geographic names and in general toponymy. The usual plural forms are lagos in Spanish and Portuguese, and laghi in Italian.

Etymology: Lago derives from Latin lacus "lake." Through phonetic and semantic evolution, the form lago appears in Italian, while Spanish and Portuguese retain lago as well; cognates across Romance languages include French lac and English lake, all tracing back to lacus.

Geographic usage and examples: Lago is used in the names of lakes and places linked to lakes. Notable examples include Lago di Como (Lake Como) in Lombardy, Italy, and Lago de Nicaragua (Lake Nicaragua) in Central America. In many cases, Lago functions as a component of a longer toponym that references a nearby lake.

Other uses: Besides geography, Lago is a surname in Italian- and Spanish-speaking regions. It may occur as part of local or regional names or family names without implying a current lake in all cases.