Weather phenomenon that translates to "the girl" nyt crossword clue

To solve the crossword clue "Weather phenomenon that translates to 'the girl'", we need to break down the elements of the clue: 1. **Key Phrase**: The clue mentions a "weather phenomenon," indicating we are looking for a term associated with meteorological events. 2. **Translation Clue**: The term translates to "the girl," which suggests we might be searching for a term that has linguistic roots pointing to a feminine or girl-related meaning. The answer to the clue is **"La Niña."** ### Explanation: - **Weather Phenomenon**: La Niña is a climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean that typically follows El Niño. It is characterized by cooler than average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific. - **Translation**: The phrase "La Niña" is Spanish for "the girl." "La" is the feminine definite article in Spanish, and "Niña" translates to "girl." When solving crossword clues: - Look for both the literal and figurative meanings of the words. - Pay attention to phrases that suggest translation or linguistic nuances. - Knowledge of meteorological terms can be helpful for such clues. ### Tips for Solving Crossword Clues: - Familiarize yourself with common foreign terms and their meanings when translations are involved. - Build a knowledge base of frequently referenced scientific terms or phenomena, especially those related to weather. - Consider the number of letters required as well as the pattern if you have some letters filled in. This can help narrow down potential answers significantly. In this case, combining understanding of both language and science led to identifying "La Niña" as the correct answer.