ouad

Ouad is a toponym used in several North African and Sahelian regions. It derives from the Arabic word wād or wādī, meaning river valley or stream bed, and is commonly rendered in French-influenced spelling as oued, ouad, or wadi in English-language texts. The spelling Ouad is particularly common in place names in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania, and parts of Western Sahara, where French and Arabic linguistic influences intersect.

In geographic terms, a wadi or oued refers to a valley, gully, or drainage course that is typically dry, filling with water during seasonal rains. These features shape the landscape, influence vegetation patterns, and affect human activity by guiding routes, settlement locations, and irrigation possibilities in arid and semi-arid regions.

As a component of place names, Ouad often signals proximity to a watercourse or valley, even when the area remains dry for much of the year. It may appear as part of village, commune, or district names and can help indicate local geography to residents and visitors alike. Because transliteration varies, the same toponym may appear in maps and documents as Ouad, Oued, Wadi, or Wad, which can complicate cross-border or historical research.

See also Wadi, Oued.