Etymological and Linguistic-Cultural Multilayered Nature of Spanish Hydronyms (Based on the Material of the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America)

Abstract

The article explores the etymological and linguocultural multilayered nature of Spanish hydronyms based on material from the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America. Hydronyms are examined as stable onomastic units that reflect complex historical, linguistic, and cultural processes accompanying the formation and development of the Spanish-speaking world. Special attention is paid to pre-Roman substrates – namely Iberian, Celtiberian, and Basque – as well as to the role of Latin and Arabic in shaping the modern hydronymic system of Spanish. The study analyzes phonetic, morphological, and semantic adaptation mechanisms of ancient names of water bodies during Romanization and the period of Arabic influence. Factors contributing to the preservation, transformation, and reinterpretation of hydronyms under long-term linguistic and sociocultural changes are also considered. Hydronyms are interpreted not only as toponymic markers but also as carriers of historical memory, collective spatial representations, and cultural identity. Particular emphasis is placed on the hydronymy of Latin America, which developed through the interaction between Spanish naming traditions and indigenous languages. The article concludes that Spanish hydronyms constitute complex multilayered linguistic structures reflecting the continuity of linguistic epochs and the stability of cultural codes.