lágrima
/ˈlaɡɾima/feminine
The Spanish word for teardrop is lágrima.
The word lágrima refers to a single tear.
Meaning: single tear (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun is feminine, so when saying 'a tear', use una lágrima. The plural form of lágrima is lágrimas.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈlaɡɾima/
Did you know?
- Unlike English, which uses 'tear' for both a teardrop and ripping paper, lágrima is only used for crying. To describe a rip in paper, Spanish uses rasgado or desgarro.
- The English word 'lacrimose', meaning tearful, and the Spanish lágrima share the same ancient root, a connection that is not immediately obvious to most learners.
- In Spanish poetry, lágrimas de fuego is a common metaphor used to describe intense passion or extreme suffering, rather than literal tears.
Examples in context
- Mary llevaba un colgante con forma de lágrima.Mary was wearing a teardrop-shaped pendant.This sentence is useful for describing an object with the shape of a lágrima.Tatoeba #11790764 by Seael, translation #11790762 by CK
- El niño tenía una lágrima en su mejillaThe child had a teardrop on his cheek
- Cada gota de llanto era un recordatorio de su tristezaEvery teardrop was a reminder of her sadness
- La película fue tan conmovedora que derramé algunas lagrimillasThe movie was so touching that I shed a few teardrops
- La abuela dejó escapar una lagrimita de felicidad cuando vio a su nietoThe grandmother let out a teardrop of happiness when she saw her grandson
- Se le escapó una lágrima.A tear escaped her/his eye.
- Una lágrima rodó por su mejilla.A teardrop rolled down her cheek.
- Vi una lágrima en sus ojos.I saw a teardrop in her eyes.
Example conversation
Alejandro notices María is upset during a phone call.
- Alejandro¿Estás bien, María?Are you okay, María?
- MaríaSí, es solo una lágrima por la película.Yes, it is just a teardrop because of the movie.
- AlejandroEsa película es muy triste.That movie is very sad.
- MaríaEs verdad, me hizo llorar.It's true, it made me cry.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “teardrop” translations and entries lágrima, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lágrima, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
