llorar
Lemma Details
Translation: to cry; to weep; to sob
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: From Latin plorare (to weep, lament). Related to the English word 'plorate' (archaic, to weep)
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of the 'll' sound as tears rolling down cheeks
- Sounds like 'yore' (as in days of yore) - when people are sad about the past
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
Commonly used in emotional contexts and telenovelas. Spanish speakers tend to be more expressive about emotions than English speakers.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: llorar means 'to cry' while llevar means 'to carry/take'
This word:
El niño está llorando.
The child is crying.
Confused word:
Llevo mis libros a la escuela.
I carry my books to school.
Notes: Both are common -ar verbs but with very different meanings
Mnemonic: llorar has 'o' for 'oh no!' (crying), llevar has 'e' for 'elevate' (lifting/carrying)