el llanto
Lemma Details
Translation: crying; weeping; tears; wailing; sobbing
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: Derived from Latin 'planctus' meaning 'beating of the breast in grief' or 'lamentation', which comes from the verb 'plangere' meaning 'to strike, beat one's breast in grief'. This evolved in Spanish to 'llanto' with the characteristic Spanish 'll' sound. The Latin root is also related to English words like 'plaint' (a lamentation) and 'plaintiff' (one who makes a complaint).
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 20%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
El llanto del bebé despertó a sus padres.
The baby's crying woke up his parents.
No pudo contener el llanto al recibir la noticia.
She couldn't hold back her tears upon receiving the news.
Su llanto era de alegría, no de tristeza.
Her crying was from joy, not sadness.
El llanto es una forma natural de expresar emociones.
Crying is a natural way to express emotions.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'llanto' as similar to 'lament' in English, both expressing sorrow.
- The 'll' sound in Spanish often corresponds to 'pl' in Latin - compare 'llanto' with its Latin root 'planctus'.
- Associate the sound of 'llanto' with the sound of someone crying.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking cultures, expressing emotions openly, including crying, is often more socially acceptable than in some English-speaking cultures. 'El llanto' can be associated with both sadness and intense joy or relief. In literature and music, particularly in flamenco, 'el llanto' is a powerful emotional expression that conveys deep feeling.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'El llanto' means 'crying' while 'el canto' means 'singing' or 'edge'. They look and sound similar but have very different meanings.
Notes: The initial 'll' in 'llanto' is pronounced differently from the 'c' in 'canto', which helps distinguish them in speech.
Mnemonic: 'Llanto' has two 'l's like two streams of tears flowing down cheeks, while 'canto' has one 'c' like one open mouth singing.
Explanation: 'El planto' is an archaic or literary term also meaning 'lamentation' or 'weeping', derived from the same Latin root as 'llanto', but is rarely used in modern Spanish.
Confused word:
El planto fúnebre resonaba en la iglesia.
The funeral lamentation resonated in the church.
Notes: You'll encounter 'llanto' in everyday Spanish, while 'planto' appears mainly in literary or historical contexts.
Mnemonic: 'Planto' preserves the 'pl' from Latin 'planctus', while 'llanto' shows the Spanish evolution to 'll'.