The word "carranco" is spelled with two c's, two r's, an a, an n, and an o. The first syllable is stressed and sounds like "kuh-RAN," with the "a" pronounced as a short "uh." The second syllable sounds like "koh." In IPA phonetic transcription, this would be transcribed as /kəˈræŋ.koʊ/. Carranco is a term used in the United States Southwest to describe a dry stream bed or arroyo. It is a borrowing from the Spanish language, where it is spelled "cañanca."
The term "carranco" has its etymology in the Spanish language. It is derived from the combination of the words "carro" (meaning "cart" or "carriage") and "ancho" (meaning "wide" or "broad"). "Carranco" refers to a narrow and steep gorge or ravine that is difficult to traverse, resembling the width of a carriage or cart. The word is commonly used in Spanish-speaking regions to describe such geographical features.