пла́кать
plákatʹimperfective
To cry in Russian is to say пла́кать (plákatʹ). Wiktionary also lists рыда́ть (rydátʹ).
Meaning: intransitive: to shed tears (verb)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| пла́кать | plákatʹ | imperfective |
| рыда́ть | rydátʹ | imperfective |
The primary meaning is to shed tears.
Which one should you use?
While пла́кать is the standard, general verb for the act of crying or shedding tears, рыда́ть is a more intense form of crying, specifically meaning to sob or wail loudly. Additionally, be careful with the distinction between shedding tears and making noise: the noun крик means a shout or scream, but the verb for 'to shout' or 'to cry out' is крича́ть, not пла́кать.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
plákatʹ
What mistakes should you avoid?
Because the English word 'cry' can mean both to shed tears and to shout, English speakers may mistakenly use the Russian word for 'shout' (крича́ть) when they mean 'to cry/shed tears' (пла́кать) or vice versa.
Did you know?
- There is a common Russian idiom пла́кать крова́выми слёзами, which translates to 'to cry tears of blood'. It is used to describe extreme anguish or profound regret.
- In Russian folk traditions and old songs, пла́кать was often used as a synonym for 'lamenting' in a ritualistic sense, specifically during weddings where the bride had to 'cry' to say goodbye to her childhood.
- The word пла́кать shares a root with the word пла́ч, which is not just any cry but a formal 'lament'. A плака́льщица was a professional mourner hired to wail at funerals.
Examples in context
- Она начала плакать, когда услышала печальные новости.She started to cry when she heard the sad news.
- Маленький ребенок не смог уснуть и продолжал рыдать.The little child couldn't fall asleep and continued to cry.
- Мне так грустно, что я уже хочу плакать.I feel so sad that I want to cry already.
- Я видел, как она плакала весь день.I saw her crying all day.
- Она сильно плачет из-за потери домашнего питомца.She is crying intensely due to the loss of her pet.
- Исполнение этой песни заставило меня просто разрыдаться.The performance of this song made me simply burst into tears.
- Не стоит рыдать над пролитым молоком.Don't cry over spilled milk.
- Маленький ребёнок начал пла́кать.Mal'en'kiy rebyonok nachal plakat'.The little baby started to cry.
- Она не хочет пла́кать на людях.Ona ne khochet plakat' na lyudyakh.She does not want to cry in public.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cry” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
