17 Mar Calima

• Where does the word Calima come from?

The word Calima is a variant of calina that comes from the Latin caligo , calignis ( mist, damp mist, darkness). The meaning to which it derived in Spanish is not precisely “mist of water vapor”, but another one. It defines haze as “atmospheric accident consisting of particles of dust or sand in suspension, whose density makes visibility difficult”.

• Why did we choose this word?

Since Monday all of Spain has been facing a large cloud of dust from the Sahara that has entered the peninsula because of the Celia storm. The southeast and the center of the country are more affected, and it is recommended that people suffering from respiratory problems be especially careful. The haze, according to the State Meteorological Agency, is a “mud rain” and is expected to disappear this Thursday.

• With calima we usually find some expressions, especially in the Canary Islands, where the phenomenon is more frequent:

“Forte Calufo!”  It is used when there is calima or to describe a wind with sand that comes from the North African desert, next to the islands.

If you have been interested in this article and want to discover the meaning of other words, do not miss our section here!