Spanish word

lamento

Pronunciation

IPA/laˈmento/

Meaning

  • masculine nounlament

Example

Escuché su lamento durante la noche.

I heard his lament during the night.

Illustration for lamento (lament)

More examples

Mostró su lamento al recibir la noticia.

She showed her sorrow upon receiving the news.

Core concept

A deep, sorrowful expression that may be silent or vocal.

Common phrases

  • profundo lamento

    profound lament

  • mostrar lamento

    show sorrow

  • oír un lamento

    hear a lament

Similar words

pena: An internal sense of distress or pity caused by loss or misfortune.
tristeza: A sustained emotional state of sadness or melancholy.
queja: A verbal expression of displeasure about an unpleasant situation.
llanto: Crying with tears, often accompanied by sobs or loud sounds.

Definition in Spanish

Señala el acto o el resultado de lamentarse, ya sea como sonido (llanto, suspiro) o como sentimiento de pena.

Word origin

The Spanish lamento goes back to Latin lamentum 'wailing' and historically names expressions of mourning either as sounds or as sorrowful states.

Usage tips

  • Because lamento carries a strong, often dramatic tone, using it for minor complaints can sound exaggerated and speakers more often use short phrases like lo siento to show sympathy.

Other meanings

  • moannoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word