Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Cry in Spanish: Llorar
Llorar · verb · yoh-RAHR
Cry in Spanish is llorar, a regular -ar verb meaning to shed tears. When cry means to shout or call out, gritar is the appropriate translation.
Llorar is pronounced yoh-RAHR (or joh-RAHR in some regions), with the double-L producing a Y sound in most dialects.
No pude evitar llorar al ver esa película.
I couldn't help crying when I watched that movie.
Cry in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for cry, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| llorar | cry | yoh-RAHR | Default, widely understood |
| gritar | cry | when cry means to shout/cry out |
How Native Speakers Use Llorar
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Emotional reaction
El bebé no para de llorar desde hace una hora.
The baby hasn't stopped crying for an hour.
Describing a baby's constant crying.
Expressing sadness
Lloré mucho cuando se fue mi mejor amigo.
I cried a lot when my best friend left.
Past tense emotional expression.
Comforting someone
No llores, todo va a salir bien.
Don't cry, everything will be fine.
Using the negative imperative to comfort.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Llorar
Confusing llorar with gritar
Incorrect: El niño lloró '¡Ayuda!'
Correct: El niño gritó '¡Ayuda!'
Llorar means to shed tears, while gritar means to cry out or shout.
Spelling the double-L incorrectly
Incorrect: Ella empezó a lorar.
Correct: Ella empezó a llorar.
Llorar requires the double-L (elle), which is essential for correct spelling.
Lock in Cry Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Llorar used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using llorar in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear No pude evitar llorar al ver esa película. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Cry in Spanish
- How do you say cry in Spanish?
- The Spanish verb for cry (to shed tears) is llorar, a regular -ar verb conjugated as lloro, lloras, llora, lloramos, lloráis, lloran in the present tense.
- What is the difference between llorar and gritar?
- Llorar specifically means to cry tears from emotion, while gritar means to cry out, shout, or scream — they cover different meanings of the English word cry.
- How do you say 'Don't cry' in Spanish?
- To tell someone not to cry, use no llores (informal tú command) or no llore (formal usted command).