lágrimas
/LAH-gree-mahs/
tears
Lágrimas (tears) are the fluid that comes from the eyes.
📝 In Action
Después de ver la película, tenía los ojos llenos de lágrimas.
A1After watching the movie, her eyes were full of tears.
Sus lágrimas eran de alegría, no de tristeza.
A2His tears were of joy, not sadness.
Le cayeron dos lágrimas por la mejilla cuando se despidió.
B1Two tears rolled down her cheek when she said goodbye.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Plural
When talking about the fluid from crying, Spanish almost always uses the plural form, 'lágrimas,' even if you are referring to just one tear.
Feminine Noun
Remember that 'lágrimas' is a feminine word, so you must use feminine words with it: 'las lágrimas' (the tears), 'muchas lágrimas' (many tears).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Singular for Crying
Mistake: "Vi una lágrima en su ojo. (I saw one tear in their eye.)"
Correction: Vi lágrimas en sus ojos. / Le cayó una lágrima. (Unless you are specifically counting, use the plural, 'lágrimas,' for the general concept of crying.)
⭐ Usage Tips
The Verb for Crying
The most common verb to use with this word is 'llorar' (to cry): 'Ella está llorando lágrimas de felicidad.' (She is crying tears of happiness.)
Lágrimas can also refer to drops or beads of liquid, such as sap or resin.
📝 In Action
El vino tiene buenas 'lágrimas', lo que indica alta graduación.
B2The wine has good 'legs' (or 'tears'), which indicates high alcohol content.
Las lágrimas de resina goteaban lentamente del pino herido.
C1The drops of resin dripped slowly from the injured pine tree.
⭐ Usage Tips
Figurative Use
This meaning is a visual comparison: liquid that slowly runs down a surface, resembling a tear falling down a cheek. You will hear this most often when describing wine.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: lágrimas
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'lágrimas' in its primary meaning?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'lágrimas' plural, even when I only mean one tear?
In Spanish, the fluid that comes from crying is usually treated as an uncountable substance, similar to 'water' or 'sand,' and is referred to in the plural form, 'las lágrimas.' If you absolutely must specify only one drop, you can say 'una lágrima,' but the plural is far more common.
Can I use 'lágrimas' to talk about rain drops?
While it's poetically possible, the standard word for rain drops is 'gotas de lluvia.' Use 'lágrimas' strictly for tears from the eyes, or figuratively for thick, slow-moving drops like resin or wine 'legs'.