vendaval

Vendaval is a noun used in Spanish and Portuguese to denote a violent, sudden wind or gust — essentially a gale or squall. The term is commonly employed in weather and maritime contexts to describe strong winds that accompany storms or frontal systems, especially along coastlines where gusts can impact sailing, anchorage, and coastal structures.

In meteorology, a vendaval refers to a high-velocity wind event characterized by brief, intense gusts. It is often associated with active weather systems, such as passing fronts or convective activity, and is aUsually reported in forecasts and reports from weather services in Iberian-speaking regions.

Etymologically, vendaval derives from the Latin ventus, meaning wind, and entered Iberian languages through historical forms in Old Spanish and Portuguese. The word has cognates across Romance languages and retains a primarily meteorological and descriptive sense.

Beyond its literal sense, vendaval is used metaphorically in literature, music, and everyday language to signify a powerful, disruptive force or a sudden change that reshapes a setting or situation. It can also appear as a proper noun in cultural works, titles, or place names, reflecting its evocative imagery of energy and upheaval.

In sum, vendaval denotes a strong, abrupt wind in Spanish and Portuguese, with usage spanning meteorology, navigation, culture, and metaphor. See also wind, squall, gale.