Esta página en tu idioma
English فارسی العربية Deutsch Français 日本語 한국어 Português 中文 हिन्दी
A2 noun #2,500 más común 4 min de lectura

larmes

At the A1 level, you should know that 'larmes' means 'tears'. It is a feminine noun, usually used in the plural: 'les larmes'. You might use it in very simple sentences like 'J'ai des larmes' or 'Il y a des larmes'. It is important to connect it to the verb 'pleurer' (to cry). At this stage, just focus on the physical object—the water that comes from your eyes when you are sad. You might see it in basic stories or hear it in simple songs about being happy or sad.
At the A2 level, you can start using 'larmes' with common verbs like 'avoir' and 'verser'. You should learn the phrase 'avoir les larmes aux yeux' (to have tears in one's eyes), which is very common when talking about emotions. You can also describe the tears: 'des larmes de joie' (tears of joy) or 'des larmes de tristesse' (tears of sadness). You are expected to understand that it is a feminine plural noun, so adjectives must agree: 'de grandes larmes'.
At the B1 level, you should be able to use 'larmes' in more complex emotional descriptions. You can use the verb 'essuyer' (to wipe) and 'retenir' (to hold back). You should also be familiar with the expression 'fondre en larmes' (to burst into tears). You might encounter 'larmes' in newspaper articles or more detailed stories where characters express subtle feelings. You should also recognize the idiomatic expression 'larmes de crocodile' and understand its figurative meaning of insincerity.
At the B2 level, you use 'larmes' to discuss abstract concepts or literary themes. You might use it to describe the atmosphere of a scene ('une ambiance chargée de larmes'). You should be comfortable with more formal verbs like 'poindre' (to start to appear, as in 'les larmes lui poignaient les yeux'). You can also discuss the difference between 'larmes' and 'pleurs' or 'sanglots' in terms of register and nuance. You understand how 'larmes' can be used in political contexts, such as 'gaz lacrymogène'.
At the C1 level, you appreciate the poetic and metaphorical depth of 'larmes'. You can use it in stylistic writing to evoke imagery, such as 'le ciel versait des larmes de pluie'. You are aware of historical or literary references where 'larmes' represents the human condition. You can use the word in sophisticated expressions like 'être au bord des larmes' or 'rire aux larmes' (to laugh until you cry). Your use of the word is precise, choosing it over synonyms to achieve a specific emotional tone.
At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'larmes' in all its nuances. You can analyze its use in classical French poetry (like Racine or Hugo) where it often symbolizes 'le tragique'. You understand the etymological links to other words and can use it in highly technical or philosophical discussions about human emotion and biology. You can manipulate the word in wordplay or complex rhetorical devices, recognizing its power to evoke empathy or irony in high-level discourse.
Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos

larmes en 30 segundos

  • Larmes means tears in French, a feminine plural noun.
  • Commonly used with verbs like 'verser' (to shed) and 'essuyer' (to wipe).
  • Used for both physical irritation and deep emotional responses.
  • Essential for expressing sadness, joy, and empathy in French.

The word larmes refers to the salty liquid produced by the lacrimal glands in the eyes. While biologically they serve to lubricate and protect the eye, in the French language and culture, they are deeply symbolic of the human emotional spectrum. Whether they represent profound sorrow, overwhelming joy, or even physical irritation, 'larmes' is a foundational noun for expressing vulnerability and reaction.

Biological Origin
Produced by the 'glandes lacrymales' to clean the ocular surface.
Emotional Weight
Used to describe the physical manifestation of sadness, grief, or happiness.
Grammatical Note
Almost always used in the plural form, though 'une larme' (a single tear) is common in poetic contexts.

Elle avait des larmes aux yeux en écoutant cette chanson triste.

— Example of emotional usage

In a broader sense, 'larmes' can be used metaphorically. For instance, 'le vin de larmes' might refer to a wine produced in difficult conditions, or 'un ciel en larmes' to describe a rainy, gloomy day. The word carries a weight that 'pleurs' (crying) does not; while 'pleurs' describes the act of sobbing, 'larmes' describes the substance itself, often highlighting the beauty or the tragedy of the moment.

Ne verse pas de larmes pour quelqu'un qui ne te mérite pas.

Visual Description
Often described as 'perles' (pearls) in classical French literature.

Using 'larmes' correctly requires understanding its common verb pairings. In French, you don't just 'cry tears'; you 'shed' them, 'wipe' them, or 'hold' them back. The most common verb is verser (to shed). For example, 'verser des larmes de joie' (to shed tears of joy).

Verser
To shed or pour out tears.
Essuyer
To wipe away tears from the face.
Retenir
To hold back or suppress tears.

Il a essuyé ses larmes avant d'entrer dans la salle.

When describing the intensity of an emotion, you might use the expression 'fondre en larmes' (to burst into tears). This suggests a sudden and uncontrollable release of emotion. Another common structure is 'avoir les larmes aux yeux', which indicates that someone is on the verge of crying but hasn't necessarily started sobbing yet.

À l'annonce de la nouvelle, elle a fondu en larmes.

You will encounter 'larmes' in various settings, from daily conversations to high-brow literature. In daily life, it's often used when discussing movies, weddings, or personal struggles. 'C'était tellement émouvant, j'en avais les larmes aux yeux' is a standard way to describe a touching film.

Le film était si triste que tout le public était en larmes.

In French music (Chanson Française), 'larmes' is a recurring motif. Artists like Edith Piaf or Jacques Brel frequently used the word to evoke heartbreak and 'la nostalgie'. In news reports, you might hear about 'larmes de gaz lacrymogène' (tear gas) during protests, showing a more clinical and harsh use of the root word.

The most frequent mistake for learners is confusing the gender. Since 'larmes' is almost always plural, learners often forget it is feminine. Remember: une larme, les larmes salées.

Gender Error
Saying 'les larmes sont salés' instead of 'salées'.
Confusion with 'Lame'
'Une lame' means a blade or a wave. Don't mix them up!

Another mistake is using 'pleurer' (the verb) when 'larmes' (the noun) is required. You 'pleure' (cry), but you 'verse des larmes' (shed tears). Also, be careful with the expression 'larmes de crocodile'. It means fake grief, just like in English, but learners sometimes use it to mean 'big tears', which is incorrect.

While 'larmes' is the specific noun for the fluid, several related words describe the act or the sound of crying. Les pleurs is a general term for the act of crying, often used for children. Les sanglots refers to heavy, convulsive sobbing where the breath is caught.

Pleurs
The act of crying (noun).
Sanglots
Sobbing or gasping while crying.
Gémissements
Moans or whimpers associated with pain and tears.

Ses sanglots étouffaient ses paroles.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

""

Informal

""

Jerga

""

Nivel de dificultad

Gramática que debes saber

Ejemplos por nivel

1

Il a des larmes.

He has tears.

Plural noun.

2

Les larmes sont sur son visage.

The tears are on his face.

Feminine plural.

3

Pourquoi as-tu des larmes ?

Why do you have tears?

Question form.

4

Elle ne veut pas de larmes.

She doesn't want tears.

Negative construction.

5

Regarde ses larmes.

Look at his/her tears.

Imperative.

6

Les larmes sont petites.

The tears are small.

Adjective agreement (feminine plural).

7

Il y a des larmes de joie.

There are tears of joy.

Preposition 'de'.

8

Maman essuie mes larmes.

Mom wipes my tears.

Present tense.

1

Elle a les larmes aux yeux.

She has tears in her eyes.

Idiomatic structure 'avoir les larmes aux yeux'.

2

Ne verse pas de larmes pour lui.

Don't shed tears for him.

Verb 'verser'.

3

C'est un film qui donne les larmes aux yeux.

It's a movie that brings tears to the eyes.

Relative clause.

4

Il a séché ses larmes vite.

He dried his tears quickly.

Past tense (passé composé).

5

Mes larmes sont tombées sur le papier.

My tears fell on the paper.

Agreement of past participle 'tombées'.

6

Elle rit aux larmes.

She is laughing to tears.

Expression 'rire aux larmes'.

7

Le bébé a beaucoup de larmes.

The baby has many tears.

Quantifier 'beaucoup de'.

8

Il cache ses larmes derrière ses lunettes.

He hides his tears behind his glasses.

Preposition 'derrière'.

1

Elle a fondu en larmes après l'examen.

She burst into tears after the exam.

Expression 'fondre en larmes'.

2

Il a retenu ses larmes pendant tout le discours.

He held back his tears during the whole speech.

Verb 'retenir'.

3

Ce sont des larmes de crocodile, elle n'est pas triste.

Those are crocodile tears, she isn't sad.

Idiom.

4

Le vieil homme avait des larmes de nostalgie.

The old man had tears of nostalgia.

Abstract noun usage.

5

Elle a essuyé une larme discrète.

She wiped away a discreet tear.

Singular 'une larme'.

6

Ses larmes coulaient sans s'arrêter.

Her tears were flowing without stopping.

Imperfect tense.

7

Il n'y a pas de honte à avoir des larmes.

There is no shame in having tears.

Infinitive phrase.

8

La nouvelle a provoqué un torrent de larmes.

The news caused a torrent of tears.

Metaphorical 'torrent'.

1

L'émotion était telle que les larmes lui sont montées aux yeux.

The emotion was such that tears came to his eyes.

Indirect object pronoun 'lui'.

2

Elle a étouffé ses larmes dans son oreiller.

She muffled her tears in her pillow.

Verb 'étouffer'.

3

Le gaz lacrymogène provoque des larmes immédiates.

Tear gas causes immediate tears.

Adjective 'lacrymogène'.

4

Il a parlé avec des larmes dans la voix.

He spoke with tears in his voice.

Metaphorical 'dans la voix'.

5

Ses larmes témoignaient de sa sincérité.

Her tears bore witness to her sincerity.

Verb 'témoigner'.

6

Elle était au bord des larmes tout l'après-midi.

She was on the verge of tears all afternoon.

Expression 'au bord des larmes'.

7

Chaque larme versée était un soulagement.

Every tear shed was a relief.

Passive participle 'versée'.

8

Il a accueilli la victoire avec des larmes.

He welcomed the victory with tears.

Prepositional phrase.

1

Le poète compare les larmes à la rosée du matin.

The poet compares tears to morning dew.

Literary comparison.

2

Elle a versé des larmes de sang, tant sa douleur était grande.

She cried tears of blood, so great was her pain.

Hyperbole.

3

Le récit était ponctué de larmes et de silences.

The story was punctuated by tears and silences.

Passive voice.

4

Il a réprimé ses larmes par pure fierté.

He repressed his tears out of pure pride.

Verb 'réprimer'.

5

Les larmes amères de la défaite sont dures à avaler.

The bitter tears of defeat are hard to swallow.

Abstract metaphor.

6

Elle s'est perdue dans un océan de larmes.

She lost herself in an ocean of tears.

Metaphor.

7

Ses larmes étaient le seul langage qui lui restait.

Her tears were the only language she had left.

Philosophical statement.

8

L'enfant a séché ses larmes, retrouvant son sourire.

The child dried his tears, finding his smile again.

Present participle construction.

1

L'œuvre explore la catharsis par les larmes.

The work explores catharsis through tears.

Academic register.

2

Il n'est point de larmes qui ne finissent par se tarir.

There are no tears that do not eventually dry up.

Formal 'ne point' construction.

3

La tragédie classique sublime les larmes des héros.

Classical tragedy sublimes the tears of heroes.

Literary analysis.

4

Elle a déversé un flot de larmes intarissable.

She poured out an inexhaustible stream of tears.

Adjective 'intarissable'.

5

Les larmes sont l'exsudat de l'âme en peine.

Tears are the exudate of a soul in pain.

Highly formal vocabulary.

6

Il a contemplé ses larmes dans le miroir du temps.

He contemplated his tears in the mirror of time.

Abstract imagery.

7

Le texte est imprégné de larmes retenues depuis des siècles.

The text is imbued with tears held back for centuries.

Passive voice with 'imprégné'.

8

Nul ne saurait ignorer les larmes d'un peuple opprimé.

No one could ignore the tears of an oppressed people.

Formal 'nul ne saurait'.

Colocaciones comunes

verser des larmes
essuyer ses larmes
retenir ses larmes
sécher ses larmes
fondre en larmes
larmes de joie
larmes de tristesse
avoir les larmes aux yeux
rire aux larmes
gaz lacrymogène

Frases Comunes

En larmes

Jusqu'aux larmes

Sans larmes

Pleurer à chaudes larmes

Une larme de vin

Laisser couler ses larmes

Étouffer ses larmes

Baigné de larmes

Cacher ses larmes

Le don des larmes

Se confunde a menudo con

larmes vs Lame (blade/wave)

larmes vs L'arme (the weapon)

larmes vs Alarme (alarm)

Modismos y expresiones

""

""

""

""

""

""

""

""

""

""

Fácil de confundir

larmes vs Lame

larmes vs L'arme

larmes vs L'âme

larmes vs Alarme

larmes vs Drame

Patrones de oraciones

Cómo usarlo

intensity

'Fondre en larmes' is much stronger than 'avoir les larmes aux yeux'.

singular vs plural

Plural is standard; singular is for specific drops or metaphorical small amounts.

Errores comunes

Consejos

Gender Check

Always remember 'larmes' is feminine. If you describe them as salty, use 'salées' with an 'es' at the end.

Small Amounts

In a cafe, you can ask for 'une larme de lait' in your coffee for just a tiny drop.

Crocodile Tears

Use 'larmes de crocodile' when you think someone is pretending to be sad to get what they want.

Silent S

Even though it's plural, don't pronounce the 's'. It sounds exactly like the singular 'larme'.

Verbs Matter

Use 'verser' for the action of shedding tears and 'essuyer' for cleaning them away.

Emotional Range

Don't assume 'larmes' always means sadness; always look for the context of 'joie' or 'rire'.

Poetic Flair

In creative writing, compare larmes to 'perles' or 'cristal' to sound more literary.

Song Lyrics

Listen to French ballads; 'larmes' is one of the most common words in emotional songs.

Politeness

If someone has 'les larmes aux yeux', it's polite to ask 'Ça va ?' or offer a 'mouchoir' (tissue).

Alarm Connection

Think: An 'alarm' makes you cry 'larmes'. This helps you remember the spelling and meaning.

Memorízalo

Origen de la palabra

Latin

Contexto cultural

Crying in public is less common than in some cultures but seen as authentic in art.

Used metaphorically for small quantities of liquid.

Central to the 'mal du siècle' in 19th-century French poetry.

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

Inicios de conversación

"Quel film t'a donné les larmes aux yeux récemment ?"

"Est-ce que tu verses souvent des larmes de joie ?"

"Comment dit-on 'crocodile tears' dans ta langue ?"

"As-tu déjà ri aux larmes avec tes amis ?"

"Pourquoi les oignons font-ils couler les larmes ?"

Temas para diario

Décris un moment où tu as eu les larmes aux yeux.

Est-ce que les larmes sont un signe de faiblesse ou de force ?

Écris sur un souvenir qui te donne encore les larmes aux yeux.

Imagine un monde sans larmes. Comment les gens exprimeraient-ils la tristesse ?

Décris la différence entre les larmes de joie et les larmes de tristesse.

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

It is feminine. You say 'une larme' and 'les larmes'.

'Larmes' refers to the liquid drops, while 'pleurs' refers to the act of crying.

Yes, 'larmes de joie' is a very common expression.

It means fake or insincere tears, just like in English.

The most common way is 'fondre en larmes'.

No, the 's' is silent.

Yes, 'une larme de...' means a very small drop of a liquid, usually alcohol.

The verb is 'essuyer'.

Yes, it comes from the same Latin root and means 'producing tears'.

You use the verb 'retenir': 'retenir ses larmes'.

Ponte a prueba 180 preguntas

/ 180 correct

Perfect score!

Contenido relacionado

¿Te ha servido?

Comentarios (0)

Inicia Sesión para Comentar
¡No hay comentarios todavía. Sé el primero en compartir tus ideas!