When someone is sad but not crying very loudly, we say they are lloriqueando. Think of a small child who is a little upset and making soft crying sounds, not a big, loud cry. This word describes that gentle, soft kind of crying.
It's often used when someone is complaining or feeling sorry for themselves in a whiny way. So, if you hear someone lloriquear, it means they are whimpering or making small, weak crying noises.
When someone cries softly, perhaps making little whimpering sounds, the verb to use is lloriquear. It's different from a full, loud cry (llorar). Think of a small child who is upset but not in full-blown tears, or an animal making soft, distressed noises.
You might hear someone say, 'El niño lloriqueaba porque tenía sueño,' meaning 'The child whimpered because he was sleepy.' Or perhaps, 'El perrito lloriqueó en la puerta,' meaning 'The puppy whimpered at the door.' It's a useful word for describing a softer, often more sustained, type of crying or complaining sound.
lloriquear in 30 Seconds
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§ Don't confuse 'lloriquear' with 'llorar'
Many learners mix up lloriquear and llorar. While both relate to crying, they are not interchangeable. Llorar is the general verb for 'to cry'. It can be used for any kind of crying, whether it's loud sobs, quiet tears, or even crying tears of joy. Lloriquear, on the other hand, specifically means 'to whimper' or 'to cry weakly and softly'. It implies a more subdued, often slightly annoying or pathetic kind of crying. Think of a small child making soft, continuous crying noises for attention.
§ Using 'lloriquear' when strong crying is meant
It's a common error to use lloriquear when you actually mean someone is crying loudly or sobbing intensely. If someone is heartbroken and openly weeping, lloriquear isn't the right word. You would use llorar, or perhaps a more intense verb like sollozar (to sob). Using lloriquear in such a context would sound odd, almost as if you're downplaying the person's strong emotions.
- Wrong:
- Ella lloriqueó cuando supo la triste noticia. (This implies she whimpered, not cried intensely.)
- Right:
- Ella lloró sin consuelo cuando supo la triste noticia. (She cried inconsolably when she heard the sad news.)
§ Overusing 'lloriquear' for any soft crying
While lloriquear does mean soft crying, it often carries a connotation of childishness or seeking attention. Not all soft crying is lloriquear. If an adult sheds a few quiet tears due to emotion, you would typically use llorar. Using lloriquear for an adult's quiet tears might imply a sense of complaint or weakness that isn't intended. The key is the 'weakly' and 'softly' but also the slight implication of a subdued, often prolonged, and perhaps slightly annoying sound.
El niño empezó a lloriquear cuando no consiguió su dulce. (The child started to whimper when he didn't get his candy.)
Here, lloriquear is perfect because it describes the typical, slightly manipulative crying of a child wanting something. If an adult was quietly crying tears of sadness, you'd likely just say lloró (cried).
- Incorrect: Mi abuela lloriqueó al recordar a su esposo fallecido. (This sounds like she was whimpering, which is usually not how you'd describe an adult's grief.)
- Correct: Mi abuela lloró en silencio al recordar a su esposo fallecido. (My grandmother cried in silence remembering her deceased husband.)
§ Pronunciation Pitfalls
The double 'L' (ll) in Spanish is often a challenge for English speakers. It sounds like the 'y' in 'yes' or 'yellow'. So, lloriquear is pronounced roughly like 'yoh-ree-keh-AR'. Don't pronounce the 'll' like a hard 'l' sound, as in 'lame'.
§ Understanding "Lloriquear"
You've learned that lloriquear means to cry weakly and softly, to whimper. It describes a specific type of crying, often associated with a lack of conviction, a complaint, or a childish manner. Think of a whiny cry, not a deep, heartbroken sob. It's usually a softer, more irritating sound than a truly sad cry.
§ "Llorar": The General Term
The most common and general word for 'to cry' in Spanish is llorar. You can use it in almost any context where someone is shedding tears, regardless of the intensity or reason.
- Definition
- To cry, to weep (general term).
Ella empezó a llorar cuando escuchó la noticia. (She started to cry when she heard the news.)
El bebé no dejaba de llorar en toda la noche. (The baby wouldn't stop crying all night.)
§ "Sollozar": A Deeper Cry
When someone is crying intensely, with deep, broken breaths and sounds, you would use sollozar.
- Definition
- To sob, to weep intensely.
Después de la mala noticia, ella no paraba de sollozar. (After the bad news, she couldn't stop sobbing.)
Se le veía el cuerpo temblar mientras sollozaba amargamente. (You could see his body trembling as he sobbed bitterly.)
§ "Gimotear": Similar to "Lloriquear" but More About Complaining
While gimotear is very close in meaning to lloriquear, it often carries an even stronger connotation of complaining or whining, often without actual tears.
- Definition
- To whine, to whimper (often with a complaining tone).
El niño empezó a gimotear porque no quería irse a la cama. (The child started to whine because he didn't want to go to bed.)
Dejó de gimotear una vez que le dieron su dulce. (He stopped whimpering once they gave him his candy.)
§ When to Choose "Lloriquear"
Use lloriquear when you want to specifically describe a soft, weak cry that might be:
- A whimper of discomfort or mild pain.
- A pet's soft cry for attention.
- A childish, slightly annoying cry that isn't a full-blown tantrum.
- A cry that lacks genuine deep emotion, perhaps more for show or self-pity.
Here are a few more examples using lloriquear:
El perrito empezó a lloriquear en la puerta. (The little dog started to whimper at the door.)
No me gusta cuando los adultos lloriquean por cosas pequeñas. (I don't like it when adults whimper over small things.)
Ella solo sabe lloriquear para conseguir lo que quiere. (She only knows how to whimper to get what she wants.)
Grammar to Know
Verbs like 'lloriquear' often use the simple past tense (pretérito indefinido) or the imperfect past tense (pretérito imperfecto) to describe actions.
El perro lloriqueó toda la noche. (The dog whimpered all night.)
'Lloriquear' is a regular -ar verb. Conjugate it like any other regular -ar verb.
Yo lloriqueo, tú lloriqueas, él/ella/usted lloriquea, nosotros/as lloriqueamos, vosotros/as lloriqueáis, ellos/ellas/ustedes lloriquean.
You can use 'empezar a + infinitive' to express 'to start to do something'.
Empezó a lloriquear. (He started to whimper.)
To express that someone 'only' does something, you can use 'solo + verb'.
Ella solo lloriquea. (She only whimpers.)
'Lloriquear' can be followed by a preposition like 'por' (for/about) to indicate the reason for whimpering.
Lloriquea por la comida. (He whimpers for food.)
Examples by Level
El niño empezó a lloriquear cuando su madre se fue.
The child started to whimper when his mother left.
Imperfect tense, indicating an ongoing or habitual action in the past.
Aunque intentó ser fuerte, no pudo evitar lloriquear al recibir la mala noticia.
Although he tried to be strong, he couldn't help whimpering upon receiving the bad news.
Preterite tense for a completed action; 'no pudo evitar + infinitive' means 'couldn't help doing something'.
Sus constantes quejas y su tendencia a lloriquear cansaban a todos.
His constant complaints and tendency to whimper tired everyone.
Imperfect tense for habitual actions; 'cansaban' refers to 'tired' (imperfect).
No llores, que no conseguirás nada lloriqueando.
Don't cry, you won't achieve anything by whimpering.
Negative imperative 'no llores'; 'gerundio' ('lloriqueando') to express 'by doing something'.
El cachorro herido solo sabía lloriquear suavemente.
The injured puppy only knew how to whimper softly.
Preterite tense for a completed action; 'sabía' (imperfect) refers to a state of knowing.
Dejó de lloriquear en cuanto le ofrecieron un juguete.
He stopped whimpering as soon as they offered him a toy.
Preterite tense for a completed action; 'en cuanto' means 'as soon as'.
Estaba tan frustrada que solo quería lloriquear en un rincón.
She was so frustrated that she just wanted to whimper in a corner.
Imperfect tense describing a state; 'quería' refers to 'wanted' (imperfect).
No tiene sentido lloriquear por algo que ya no se puede cambiar.
There's no point in whimpering about something that can no longer be changed.
'No tiene sentido + infinitive' means 'there's no point in doing something'.
Idioms & Expressions
"Llorar a lágrima viva"
To cry one's eyes out
Después de ver la película tan triste, ella lloró a lágrima viva. (After watching such a sad movie, she cried her eyes out.)
neutral"Tener la lágrima fácil"
To be a crybaby, to cry easily
Mi hermana tiene la lágrima fácil; cualquier cosa la hace llorar. (My sister is a crybaby; anything makes her cry.)
informal"No pegar ojo"
To not sleep a wink
Estaba tan preocupado que no pegué ojo en toda la noche. (I was so worried that I didn't sleep a wink all night.)
neutral"Ser un mar de lágrimas"
To be a sea of tears, to cry profusely
Después de la mala noticia, la habitación era un mar de lágrimas. (After the bad news, the room was a sea of tears.)
neutral"Ahogarse en un vaso de agua"
To make a mountain out of a molehill, to get overwhelmed by small problems
No te ahogues en un vaso de agua por esto, tiene solución. (Don't drown in a glass of water over this, it has a solution.)
informal"Sacar las lágrimas"
To make someone cry
Esa canción siempre me saca las lágrimas. (That song always makes me cry.)
neutral"Romper a llorar"
To burst into tears
Cuando escuchó la noticia, rompió a llorar. (When she heard the news, she burst into tears.)
neutral"Llorar de alegría"
To cry tears of joy
Al ver a su familia, lloró de alegría. (Upon seeing her family, she cried tears of joy.)
neutral"Llorar sobre leche derramada"
To cry over spilled milk (to regret something that cannot be changed)
Ya no sirve de nada llorar sobre leche derramada; hay que seguir adelante. (It's no use crying over spilled milk now; we have to move on.)
neutral"Con la voz quebrada"
With a broken voice (often due to crying or emotion)
Ella le agradeció con la voz quebrada por la emoción. (She thanked him with a voice broken by emotion.)
neutralHow to Use It
Lloriquear implies a soft, weak, and often prolonged crying sound. It's more about the sound and manner of crying than the emotional intensity. Think of a child who is mildly upset and making soft crying noises, rather than a full-blown sob. It can also be used to describe the sound an animal makes when it whimpers.
A common mistake is to use lloriquear for any type of crying. For strong, emotional crying or sobbing, you would use verbs like llorar a mares (to cry a lot/to cry buckets) or sollozar (to sob). Lloriquear is specifically for that soft, whiny, whimpering kind of cry. Don't confuse it with llorar, which is the general verb for 'to cry'.
Tips
Verb Conjugation Starter
Like most -ar verbs, 'lloriquear' follows a regular conjugation pattern. Focus on the present tense first.
Common Use Cases
You'll often hear 'lloriquear' in reference to children or animals, but it can also describe an adult who is complaining in a whining way. Don't be surprised if you hear it describing a character in a movie or book.
Pronunciation Practice
Pay attention to the 'll' sound, which is like the 'y' in 'yes' in many Latin American accents, and the 'qu' which is like 'k'. The 'ea' makes an 'eh-ah' sound. Practice saying it aloud: 'yoh-ree-keh-AR'.
Don't Confuse with 'Llorar'
'Llorar' means 'to cry' in a general sense, while 'lloriquear' specifically means 'to whimper' or 'to cry softly'. The intensity is the main difference.
Practice with Sentences
Try creating your own sentences. For example: 'El niño lloriquea porque quiere un dulce.' (The child whimpers because he wants a candy.) This helps solidify your understanding and memory.
Related Noun
The noun form is 'el lloriqueo' (the whimpering). Knowing related words expands your vocabulary quickly.
Listen for It
When watching Spanish movies or listening to music, try to catch instances of 'lloriquear'. Hearing it in natural context will boost your comprehension.
Emotional Nuance
Understanding the emotional nuances of words like 'lloriquear' helps you sound more natural. It's not just crying, it's a specific kind of crying, often associated with a complaint or mild distress, not profound sadness.
Flashcard It
Create a flashcard with 'lloriquear' on one side and 'to whimper' on the other. Include a small example sentence on the Spanish side for extra recall power.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine a tiny 'llorón' (crybaby) who 'lloriquea' because they lost their 'key' (lloriquear/key).
Visual Association
Picture a small, sad puppy making soft, whimpering sounds because it wants attention.
Word Web
Challenge
Describe a time you saw someone (or an animal) 'lloriquear'. Use the word in a sentence.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Describing a child's mild crying.
- El bebé empezó a lloriquear por hambre.
- La niña solo lloriqueó un poco después de caerse.
- No es un llanto fuerte, solo un lloriqueo.
Referring to someone complaining in a whiny way.
- Deja de lloriquear por cada pequeña cosa.
- Siempre está lloriqueando por el trabajo.
- Su lloriqueo constante me agota.
Talking about an animal making soft crying sounds.
- El cachorro lloriqueaba por su madre.
- Oímos al perro lloriquear en la puerta.
- Mi gato a veces lloriquea para que le den comida.
Expressing mild sadness or distress.
- Después de la mala noticia, ella solo pudo lloriquear un poco.
- No lloró a gritos, solo lloriqueó tristemente.
- Sentí ganas de lloriquear al ver la película.
Distinguishing between crying loudly and whimpering.
- No estaba llorando, solo lloriqueando.
- Hay una diferencia entre llorar y lloriquear.
- Su voz se hizo un lloriqueo.
Conversation Starters
"¿Recuerdas alguna vez que un niño o una mascota empezó a lloriquear? ¿Por qué crees que lo hicieron?"
"¿Qué opinas de las personas que lloriquean mucho por pequeñas cosas?"
"¿Hay alguna situación en la que lloriquear es una reacción natural o comprensible?"
"¿Has oído alguna vez a un animal lloriquear de forma que te diera pena?"
"¿Cómo diferenciarías entre 'llorar' y 'lloriquear' en diferentes situaciones?"
Journal Prompts
Describe una situación en la que escuchaste a alguien lloriquear y cómo te hizo sentir.
Escribe sobre una experiencia personal donde sentiste ganas de lloriquear.
Imagina que eres un padre. ¿Cómo reaccionarías si tu hijo empieza a lloriquear sin motivo aparente?
Piensa en un personaje de libro o película que a menudo lloriquea. ¿Cómo afecta esto a su personalidad o a la trama?
Reflexiona sobre cómo la cultura o tu entorno personal influye en la expresión de emociones como el 'lloriquear'.
Test Yourself 72 questions
The girl will whimper if you don't give her her toy.
I don't like it when babies start to whimper.
The sick dog used to whimper at night.
Read this aloud:
Ella no quiere lloriquear.
Focus: lloriquear
You said:
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Read this aloud:
No debes lloriquear por eso.
Focus: lloriquear
You said:
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Read this aloud:
El niño va a lloriquear.
Focus: lloriquear
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Your little brother is sad because he can't find his favorite toy. Write one sentence about what he does, using 'lloriquear'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Mi hermano pequeño va a lloriquear porque no encuentra su juguete favorito. (My little brother is going to whimper because he can't find his favorite toy.)
Imagine a puppy that is a little scared. Write one sentence about the puppy using 'lloriquear'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
El perrito empieza a lloriquear cuando está solo. (The puppy starts to whimper when it's alone.)
You see a baby crying softly. Write one sentence about the baby, using 'lloriquear'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
El bebé va a lloriquear un poco cuando tiene hambre. (The baby is going to whimper a little when it's hungry.)
¿Qué hizo el niño después de caerse?
Read this passage:
El niño se cayó y se lastimó la rodilla. No lloró fuerte, solo empezó a lloriquear. Su mamá vino rápido a ayudarlo.
¿Qué hizo el niño después de caerse?
The passage says 'No lloró fuerte, solo empezó a lloriquear', meaning he didn't cry loudly, he just started to whimper.
The passage says 'No lloró fuerte, solo empezó a lloriquear', meaning he didn't cry loudly, he just started to whimper.
¿Por qué el gato lloriquea?
Read this passage:
El gato nuevo está en casa. Tiene un poco de miedo. A veces, por la noche, puedes escucharlo lloriquear un poquito.
¿Por qué el gato lloriquea?
The passage states 'Tiene un poco de miedo', indicating the cat is whimpering because it's a little scared.
The passage states 'Tiene un poco de miedo', indicating the cat is whimpering because it's a little scared.
¿Qué no quería hacer la niña?
Read this passage:
La niña no quería ir a la escuela. Cuando su mamá le dijo que era hora, la niña empezó a lloriquear un poco.
¿Qué no quería hacer la niña?
The passage says 'La niña no quería ir a la escuela', which means she didn't want to go to school.
The passage says 'La niña no quería ir a la escuela', which means she didn't want to go to school.
This sentence means 'The baby is going to whimper.'
This sentence means 'I don't want to whimper anymore.'
This sentence means 'She always whimpers.'
Imagine you see a small child who has dropped their ice cream. Write a short sentence in Spanish describing what the child might do. Use 'lloriquear'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
El niño va a lloriquear porque se le cayó el helado.
You want to tell a friend that your dog whimpers when it's left alone. Write a simple sentence in Spanish.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Mi perro suele lloriquear cuando está solo.
Describe a situation where someone might 'lloriquear' in a movie or TV show. Write one sentence in Spanish.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
El personaje empezó a lloriquear después de perder el juego.
¿Qué hizo el bebé al principio?
Read this passage:
El bebé no quería dormir. Empezó a lloriquear un poco, haciendo ruidos suaves y tristes. Su mamá lo abrazó para calmarlo.
¿Qué hizo el bebé al principio?
El pasaje dice que el bebé 'empezó a lloriquear un poco'.
El pasaje dice que el bebé 'empezó a lloriquear un poco'.
¿Por qué la niña empezó a lloriquear?
Read this passage:
La película era un poco triste. Cuando el perrito se perdió, la niña en la historia comenzó a lloriquear suavemente. Fue un momento emotivo.
¿Por qué la niña empezó a lloriquear?
El texto indica 'Cuando el perrito se perdió, la niña en la historia comenzó a lloriquear'.
El texto indica 'Cuando el perrito se perdió, la niña en la historia comenzó a lloriquear'.
¿Qué indicaba el lloriqueo del gatito?
Read this passage:
El gatito maullaba y lloriqueaba un poco cerca de la puerta. Tenía hambre y quería entrar a la casa para comer.
¿Qué indicaba el lloriqueo del gatito?
El pasaje dice 'Tenía hambre y quería entrar a la casa para comer'.
El pasaje dice 'Tenía hambre y quería entrar a la casa para comer'.
Imagine a small child dropped their ice cream. Describe what they do using 'lloriquear'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
El niño empezó a lloriquear después de que su helado se cayera al suelo. Sus pequeños sollozos eran muy tristes.
Your friend is sad about a small problem, but they don't want to cry loudly. How would you describe their actions using 'lloriquear'?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Mi amigo empezó a lloriquear en voz baja, avergonzado por el pequeño problema. No quería que nadie lo escuchara.
Describe a scene where an animal is making soft, sad sounds. Use the verb 'lloriquear'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
El pequeño cachorro comenzó a lloriquear cuando su dueño se fue, haciendo pequeños ruidos tristes.
¿Por qué el bebé estaba lloriqueando?
Read this passage:
El bebé no paraba de lloriquear. Su mamá no sabía si tenía hambre o si solo quería atención. Después de darle un poco de agua, el bebé finalmente se calmó y dejó de hacer esos pequeños sonidos tristes.
¿Por qué el bebé estaba lloriqueando?
El texto dice 'Su mamá no sabía si tenía hambre o si solo quería atención.', indicando la incertidumbre de la razón.
El texto dice 'Su mamá no sabía si tenía hambre o si solo quería atención.', indicando la incertidumbre de la razón.
¿Qué tipo de sonido es 'lloriquear' en el contexto de un perro?
Read this passage:
A veces, cuando los perros extrañan a sus dueños, pueden empezar a lloriquear suavemente. Es su forma de mostrar tristeza o ansiedad. No es un ladrido fuerte, sino un sonido más parecido a un gemido.
¿Qué tipo de sonido es 'lloriquear' en el contexto de un perro?
El pasaje menciona 'No es un ladrido fuerte, sino un sonido más parecido a un gemido'.
El pasaje menciona 'No es un ladrido fuerte, sino un sonido más parecido a un gemido'.
¿Cómo eran las lágrimas de la niña al principio?
Read this passage:
La niña empezó a lloriquear cuando su juguete favorito se rompió. Sus lágrimas eran silenciosas al principio, pero poco a poco se hicieron más evidentes. No era un llanto fuerte, sino más bien un lamento suave.
¿Cómo eran las lágrimas de la niña al principio?
El texto dice 'Sus lágrimas eran silenciosas al principio'.
El texto dice 'Sus lágrimas eran silenciosas al principio'.
El perro empezó a ___ cuando vio que su dueño se iba.
The dog began to whimper when it saw its owner leaving. 'Lloriquear' means to whimper or cry weakly.
No soporto escuchar a los niños ___ por un juguete.
I can't stand hearing children whimper for a toy. 'Lloriquear' fits the context of a soft, weak cry.
Después de la inyección, el bebé solo pudo ___ un poco.
After the injection, the baby could only whimper a little. 'Lloriquear' implies a soft, brief cry.
Aunque estaba herido, el gatito no hacía más que ___.
Although it was injured, the kitten only whimpered. 'Lloriquear' describes the weak crying of a small animal.
Cuando se perdió su pelota, el niño empezó a ___ suavemente.
When he lost his ball, the child began to whimper softly. 'Lloriquear' conveys the idea of a soft, weak cry.
La película era tan triste que me dio ganas de ___.
The movie was so sad that it made me want to whimper. 'Lloriquear' suggests a subdued, weak form of crying.
Choose the best synonym for 'lloriquear'.
'Lloriquear' implies a soft, weak crying, similar to whimpering or moaning. 'Llorar fuertemente' is too intense. The other options are unrelated.
Which situation would most likely involve someone 'lloriqueando'?
'Lloriquear' suggests a mild, perhaps slightly annoying, cry over something minor. Stubbing a toe lightly fits this description, as it's not usually a cause for intense, loud crying but rather a small whimper.
The baby began to _____ softly after dropping his toy.
A baby dropping a toy would likely make a soft, weak crying sound, which is 'lloriquear'. The other options don't fit the context of 'softly' and 'dropping his toy'.
If someone is 'lloriqueando', they are likely crying very loudly and intensely.
'Lloriquear' means to cry weakly and softly, not loudly or intensely. It implies a whimper.
You might 'lloriquear' if you're trying to get sympathy for a minor inconvenience.
'Lloriquear' often implies a somewhat theatrical or attention-seeking whimper, especially for something that isn't a major issue, fitting the idea of seeking sympathy.
A person who is 'lloriqueando' is typically experiencing extreme grief.
'Lloriquear' is associated with weak, soft crying or whimpering, not typically with the deep emotional distress of extreme grief.
The child started to whimper when he couldn't find his favorite toy.
He stopped whimpering and wiped away his tears.
I don't like it when people start to whimper over small things.
Read this aloud:
La niña suele lloriquear cuando tiene sueño.
Focus: llo-ri-quear
You said:
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Read this aloud:
No debes lloriquear; busca una solución.
Focus: llo-ri-quear, so-lu-ción
You said:
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Read this aloud:
Su perro empieza a lloriquear cada vez que lo dejas solo.
Focus: llo-ri-quear, de-jas so-lo
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Choose the best synonym for 'lloriquear'.
'Lloriquear' implies a soft, weak cry, similar to 'sollozar' but often with a slightly more childish or persistent connotation. 'Gemir' is more about pain or distress, and 'lamentarse' is expressing regret.
Which situation is most likely to involve someone 'lloriqueando'?
'Lloriquear' often describes the soft, persistent crying of a child or someone expressing minor distress, like losing a toy. Adults mourning would typically 'llorar' (cry) or 'sollozar' (sob).
Which of the following sentences correctly uses 'lloriquear'?
'Lloriquear' is often used for a whimper, like a dog's soft cry when scared or anxious. While a person might whimper from bad news, the other options imply different types of crying or emotional responses.
If someone is 'lloriqueando', they are likely expressing intense, loud sorrow.
False. 'Lloriquear' specifically refers to crying weakly and softly, often a whimper, not intense or loud sorrow.
You would typically use 'lloriquear' to describe a baby's soft, continuous crying for attention.
True. 'Lloriquear' is very fitting for a baby's soft, persistent cries for attention or discomfort.
The verb 'lloriquear' can be used interchangeably with 'gritar' (to shout).
False. 'Lloriquear' means to whimper or cry softly, which is the opposite of 'gritar' (to shout).
The baby whimpered in the crib.
The girl started to whimper after she fell.
Despite adversity, she refused to whimper.
Read this aloud:
Cuando un niño lloriquea, ¿cómo lo consuelas?
Focus: lloriquear
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
¿Crees que es apropiado lloriquear en público?
Focus: apropiado, público
You said:
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Read this aloud:
Describe una situación en la que alguien podría lloriquear.
Focus: situación, podría
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Tras la noticia de su despido, solo pudo ___ en silencio, sintiendo la opresión en el pecho.
The context of 'firing news' and 'chest oppression' suggests a soft, weak cry, which is 'lloriquear'. 'Gritar' (to shout) is too strong, and 'reír' (to laugh) or 'cantar' (to sing) are inappropriate for the situation.
El perro abandonado, con la pata herida, empezó a ___ lastimeramente cuando alguien se acercó, buscando consuelo.
A wounded, abandoned dog seeking comfort would likely whimper ('lloriquear') rather than bark loudly ('ladrar'), howl ('aullar'), or growl ('gruñir').
A pesar de la seriedad de la situación, su primera reacción fue ___ como un niño, incapaz de afrontar la verdad.
The phrase 'como un niño' (like a child) and 'incapaz de afrontar la verdad' (unable to face the truth) strongly points to 'lloriquear' (to whimper) as a weak and childish reaction.
Al ver la factura del taller, no pudo evitar ___ un poco, pensando en cómo pagaría una suma tan exorbitante.
A high repair bill ('factura del taller' and 'suma tan exorbitante') would typically cause distress, leading to a soft, weak cry or whimper ('lloriquear'), not celebration, dancing, or ignoring.
El acusado, con la cabeza gacha, solo atinaba a ___ mientras el juez leía la sentencia, su voz apenas un susurro.
An accused person with 'cabeza gacha' (head bowed) and 'voz apenas un susurro' (voice barely a whisper) during a sentencing would likely be whimpering ('lloriquear') due to despair, not arguing, affirming, or denying.
La novela describe cómo el personaje principal solía ___ en su cama, deseando que el dolor desapareciera, una escena de profunda vulnerabilidad.
The description 'deseando que el dolor desapareciera' (wishing the pain would disappear) and 'profunda vulnerabilidad' (deep vulnerability) clearly indicates 'lloriquear' (to whimper) as the appropriate action in bed.
This sentence describes a child whimpering after losing a toy, demonstrating a common use of 'lloriquear'.
This sentence illustrates 'lloriquear' being used to describe someone habitually whimpering to get attention, a more advanced context.
This sentence uses 'lloriqueando' in a continuous past tense, showing a more nuanced application of the verb.
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Summary
Lloriquear means to cry softly or whimper, often associated with a child or someone expressing mild distress.
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Verb Conjugation Starter
Like most -ar verbs, 'lloriquear' follows a regular conjugation pattern. Focus on the present tense first.
Context is Key
Think of situations where someone might 'lloriquear'. It often implies a less intense or more subdued crying than 'llorar'. For example, a child might 'lloriquear' for attention.
Common Use Cases
You'll often hear 'lloriquear' in reference to children or animals, but it can also describe an adult who is complaining in a whining way. Don't be surprised if you hear it describing a character in a movie or book.
Pronunciation Practice
Pay attention to the 'll' sound, which is like the 'y' in 'yes' in many Latin American accents, and the 'qu' which is like 'k'. The 'ea' makes an 'eh-ah' sound. Practice saying it aloud: 'yoh-ree-keh-AR'.
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