Asturian-American Migration Forum

argayu: pronounced Ahr-GAH-yoo. Sustantivu (noun), plural form argayos. A landslide or mudslide as a result of heavy rains, snowmelt or earthworks. Any downward falling or sliding of soil, detritus or rock from a steep slope.

In Asturias, soil erosion is a common problem, particularly in the fall and spring when rain is intense. Country roads or train tracks are often blocked due to an argayu. In West Asturias, a large-scale landslide or mountain erosion is also known as a fana.

According to this wiki (http://ast.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argayu), the word adene is used specifically for avalanches or landslides caused by snowfall.

Verb form is argayar. Synonyms at avalanche, earthfall, rockslide, snowslide.

Usage examples:

Camin de Llanes cayo un argayu xunto la carretera. [On the way to Llanes, a mudslide fell on the road.]

Cayou un argayu ya nun pude pasar cono coche. [There was a landslide and I was unable to drive through with my car.]

L.luveu muitu en Bustantigo ya caeu una fana. [It rained a lot in Bustantigo and there was a big mudslide.]

Paez que ta argayando el prau de Hilda. [It looks like Hilda’s field is about to slide.]

Xa sabia you que dibas apaecer preiqui, Argayu. Vei muitu que nun te sintieramos no foru...

Ia que caeran tantos argayos de la que tuviera n'Asturias nesta seronda de 2008 (ya viera tantos no corredor del Narcea) que faltaba desplica-y a la xente que nun conoz la palabra.

Si quies, pues falanos de los argayos que cayeran nel tou conceyu de Mieres. El dia despueis d'esti post piesl.lanon l'autopista minera pola mor d'un argayu...

Nun foi nel mio Conceyu, sinon nel vecín de Llangréu.

Pami que los inxenieros que trabayen n'Asturies son toos foriatonos, porque nun sé cómo faen les carreteres ensin medíes de proteición escontra los argayos.

Too falao, dende la más absoluta ignorancia téunica que yo soi de lletres.

A ver si reabren l'Autovía Minera que garrar la Y, ye malo palos mios nervios.

Salú.