Arrollo y Arroyo
(Run over and Stream)

In Latino Schools we continue with our Spanish pills designed to answer frequent questions about the use of the Spanish language. This time the explanation focuses on two homophone words, “Arrollo” and “Arroyo”, which although pronounced exactly the same are spelled differently and have different meanings. So you don’t confuse them, here are some clues and a few sample sentences so you can see more clearly what the differences between “Arrollo” and “Arroyo” are:  

Soy tan buena con las palabras que siempre arrollo a mis adversarios con mis argumentos.

I’m so good with words that I always run over my opponents with my arguments.

El arroyo se formó tras una torrencial lluvia.

The stream was formed after a torrential rain.

Si no me fijo a tiempo, arrollo a ese señor.

If I hadn’t taken a good look, I’d run over that man.

La niña lanzó al arroyo un barquito de papel.

The girl threw a little paper boat into the stream.

Cuando juego concentrado, arrollo al rival.

When I play hard, I run over my opponent.

Un arroyo pasa por detrás de su casa.

A stream flows behind their house.

Arrollo las leyes que me apetezca que para eso soy un dictador.

I’ll break any laws I want, that’s why I’m a dictator.

Se puso tan triste que un arroyo de lágrimas brotó de sus ojos.

He became so sad that a stream of tears flowed from his eyes.