llorar
“llorar” means “cry” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
cry, weep
📝 In Action
El bebé empezó a llorar porque tenía hambre.
A1The baby started to cry because he was hungry.
Lloramos de alegría cuando vimos que estaba bien.
A2We cried tears of joy when we saw that he was okay.
No llores por cosas pequeñas; sé fuerte.
A1Don't cry over small things; be strong.
complain
Also: whine, lament
📝 In Action
No llores tanto por el trabajo; a todos nos pasa.
B2Don't complain so much about work; it happens to all of us.
¿Sigues llorando por el examen que reprobaste hace un mes?
B1Are you still whining about the test you failed a month ago?
Lloró la pérdida de su oportunidad de oro.
C1He lamented the loss of his golden opportunity.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: llorar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'llorar' in its figurative meaning (to complain)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Llorar comes from the Vulgar Latin verb *plorare*. This Latin root meant 'to weep loudly' or 'lament,' which is also the origin of the English word 'deplore.' The initial 'p' sound shifted over time to the 'll' sound in Spanish.
First recorded: Medieval Spanish (around the 11th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I say 'I made him cry'?
You would use the causative structure: 'Lo hice llorar' (I made him cry) or 'La hice llorar' (I made her cry). The verb 'hacer' (to make/do) is used before the infinitive 'llorar'.
Is 'llorar' used for things that weep or leak?
Yes, occasionally. If a machine, pipe, or wound is 'llorando' (crying), it means it is leaking a liquid very slowly, like sweat or oil. For example: 'La pared está llorando humedad' (The wall is weeping moisture).