A capillary wave is a wave travelling along a meniscus, whose dynamics are dominated by the effects of surface tension. Capillary waves are common in nature and the home and are often referred to as ripples. The wavelength of capillary waves is typically less than about a centimeter.

The dispersion relation for capillary waves is

ω² = gk + (σ / ρ)k³

where ω is the frequency, g the acceleration due to gravity, σ the surface energy, ρ the density and k the wavelength.

See: two phase flow, capillary action.