llorar
/yoh-RAHR (The 'll' sounds like the 'y' in 'yes' in most of Latin America, or the 'l-y' blend in 'million' in Spain.)/
cry
Llorar (to cry) means shedding tears, often due to sadness.
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Simple Regular Verb
Llorar is a regular verb, meaning its endings follow the standard, predictable pattern for all verbs that end in -ar. Once you learn the pattern for one, you know them all!
⭐ Usage Tips
Pronunciation of LL
The 'll' sound (called 'elle') is often pronounced like the English letter 'Y' in places like Mexico and Colombia. So it sounds more like 'YOR-ar' rather than a distinct L sound.
Llorar can also mean to complain or express strong dissatisfaction about a situation.
llorar(verb)
complain
?to express dissatisfaction
whine
?to complain in a childish or annoying way
,lament
?to express deep regret or sorrow (often non-physical crying)
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Literal vs. Figurative
When used in this sense, 'llorar' means to express grief or difficulty verbally, not necessarily with tears. Context will tell you if someone is actually weeping or just complaining.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'llorar' with 'de'
Mistake: "Lloró de que no tiene dinero."
Correction: Lloró porque no tiene dinero. (or better: Se quejó de que no tiene dinero.)
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: llorar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'llorar' in its figurative meaning (to complain)?
📚 More Resources
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).