LLORAR - WEEP

 

I know that Rabelais says in his Gargantua et Pantagruel that "Mieux est de rire que de larmes écrire, parce que rire est le propre de l'homme," and I am not going to debate that, but only say that mankind laughs and also weeps, and today I want to deal with the phraseology of weeping in English and Spanish. 

The Spanish-speaking peoples throughout the world weep, at times profusely, expressing it as: Llorar a lágrima viva (moco tendido, como una Magdalena, como un tonto, a mares). Lloraba a lágrima viva porque quería estar con su madre. She was crying her eyes out because she wanted to be with her mother. 

— “Y fue que la niña entró de la terraza llorando a lágrima viva...” Fernando Aramburu, Los vencejos, 2021. Esp. || “… botella de tequila en mano, llorando a moco tendido.” Chavela Vargas, Y si quieres saber de mi pasado, 2002. Méx. || “… y estaba llorando como una Madalena.” Fernando Quiñones, Las mil noches de Hortensia Romero, 1979. Esp.

And in the meantime, English-speaking people cry (sob, weep) one’s eyes (heart) out, cry an ocean (a river, buckets)

— “Becker says he was very emotional about playing his last Wimbledon and cried his eyes out on his hotel balcony as he thought of his past glories...” Sunday Times, 8 Nov 2003. S. Afr.

Allow me to end on a happy note: We also weep for joy in English, y lloramos de alegría en castellano.