Tenerife

American  

[ten-uh-rif, -reef, te-ne-ree-fe] / ˌtɛn əˈrɪf, -ˈrif, ˌtɛ nɛˈri fɛ /

Or Teneriffe

noun

1. the largest of the Canary Islands, off the northwestern coast of Africa. 794 sq. mi. (2,055 sq. km). Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

2. Pico de Tenerife Pico de Teide.

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Tenerife British  

/ teneˈrife, ˌtɛnəˈriːf /

noun

1. a Spanish island in the Atlantic, off the NW coast of Africa: the largest of the Canary Islands; volcanic and mountainous; tourism and agriculture. Capital: Santa Cruz. Pop: 778 071 (2002 est). Area: 2058 sq km (795 sq miles)

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Etymology

Origin of Tenerife

First recorded in 1595–1600; from Guanche (an extinct Berber language spoken on the Canary Islands) tene, teni “mountain” + ife “white,” specifically Mount Teide ( def. )

Example Sentences

The head of the World Health Organization is seeking to reassure residents of the Spanish island of Tenerife worried about the anticipated arrival there of a hantavirus-stricken cruise ship.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

The MV Hondius left the island of Tenerife with a skeleton crew on Monday and will be disinfected upon arrival in the Netherlands on Sunday.

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

Thirteen Dutch nationals - eight passengers and five crew members - were on board the ship when it docked in Tenerife.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

Flights from Tenerife were arranged to return passengers from more than 20 countries, underscoring the international scope of the response.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

The Beagle lifted anchor on December 27, 1831, with seventy-three sailors on board, clearing a gale and tacking southward toward Tenerife.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee