llorar a mares
Lemma Details
Translation: to cry buckets; to cry a river; to weep profusely; to sob uncontrollably
Part of Speech: idiom
Etymology: This Spanish idiom combines 'llorar' (to cry) with 'a mares' (literally 'to seas'). The expression uses the imagery of seas or oceans to convey the abundance of tears, suggesting someone is crying so much that their tears could form seas. This metaphorical use of natural bodies of water to represent excessive crying is found in many languages, including the English expression 'to cry a river'.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 40%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Cuando supo la noticia, empezó a llorar a mares.
When she heard the news, she began to cry buckets.
La película era tan triste que todo el público lloraba a mares.
The movie was so sad that the entire audience was crying uncontrollably.
El niño lloró a mares cuando perdió su juguete favorito.
The child cried a river when he lost his favorite toy.
Mnemonics
- Think of tears forming an entire ocean or sea ('mar' in Spanish).
- Visualize someone crying so much that they create 'mares' (seas) of tears.
- Connect it to the English phrase 'cry me a river' but amplified to 'seas'.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This expression is commonly used in everyday Spanish conversation to describe intense emotional situations. It's used across all Spanish-speaking countries and is understood by speakers of all ages. The idiom often appears in literature, telenovelas, and songs to describe heartbreak or profound sadness.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While both idioms refer to crying profusely, 'llorar a mares' focuses on the quantity of tears (like seas), whereas 'llorar como una Magdalena' refers to the Biblical Mary Magdalene and emphasizes the dramatic, inconsolable nature of crying.
Confused word:
En el funeral, lloraba como una Magdalena abrazada a su hermana.
At the funeral, she was crying like a baby while hugging her sister.
Notes: Both expressions are commonly used in similar contexts, but 'llorar a mares' is slightly more neutral, while 'llorar como una Magdalena' can sometimes imply excessive or dramatic crying.
Mnemonic: 'Mares' refers to quantity (seas of tears), while 'Magdalena' refers to quality (dramatic, sorrowful crying).