What is cry? Pronunciation and usage in English

cry means . Learn how to pronounce and use cry through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of cry

cryverb

/krʌɪ/
Definition & pronunciation of cry

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "cry" in English. It's a tricky one for some learners! Here's a breakdown:

The Basic Sound:

  • "C" - /k/: The "c" in "cry" is pronounced as a hard "k" sound, like in "cat."

  • "Ri" - /rī/: This is the tricky part! It’s a diphthong, meaning it’s a combination of two vowel sounds blending together. It sounds roughly like "ree."

    • Start with a quick "ee" sound: Think of the "ee" in "see."
    • Quickly transition to an "ih" sound: It’s a very fast glide from the "ee" to the "ih." You shouldn't distinctly hear each vowel separately.

Putting it Together:

The whole word “cry” is pronounced: /krī/

Tips for Practice:

  • Listen to native speakers: This is crucial. The best way to get the flow and rhythm is to hear it. You can find examples on:

    • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/cry/ (This site has pronunciations from native speakers)
    • Google Search: Search "how to pronounce cry" and you’ll find many audio clips.
    • YouTube: Many pronunciation tutorials.

  • Break it down: Say each part separately first: /k/ + /rī/. Then slowly blend them together.

  • Record yourself: Record yourself saying it and compare it to a native speaker's pronunciation.

  • Focus on the glide: Don’t try to say “ree” and “ee” distinctly. The movement between them is what matters.

Common Mistakes:

  • Saying "cray": This is a very common mistake, as the "ay" sound is easy to fall into. Remember, it’s the /krī/ sound.
  • Holding the "ee" sound too long: The transition to the "ih" sound is very quick.

Would you like me to:

  • Give you more examples of words with similar sounds?
  • Provide a more detailed phonetic breakdown (using IPA - International Phonetic Alphabet)?

Usage and examples with the word cry in English

Let's break down how to use the word "cry" in English. It’s surprisingly versatile! Here's a categorized breakdown with examples:

1. To Shed Tears (Emotionally)

  • Meaning: This is the most common usage – to produce tears due to sadness, grief, pain, joy, or strong emotion.
  • Examples:
    • "She cried when she heard the news." (Sadness)
    • "He cried with happiness at the birth of his child." (Joy)
    • "A single tear cried down her cheek." (Pain/sadness)
    • "Don't cry, it'll be okay." (Comforting someone)

2. To Make a Sound (Verb - Sound)

  • Meaning: To emit a sharp, loud, wailing sound, often due to distress, pain, or fear. This is often associated with babies and animals.
  • Examples:
    • "The baby cried all night." (Distress)
    • "The dog cried when it was left alone." (Fear/Loneliness)
    • "The wind cried through the trees." (Sound of the wind)
    • "A lone wolf cried in the distance." (Wild animal sound)

3. To Express Protest or Complaint (Verb - Action/Demand)

  • Meaning: To demand something forcefully, often with a shout or complaint. It implies a refusal to accept a situation.
  • Examples:
    • "The passengers cried out for help." (Demanded assistance)
    • "The workers cried for higher wages." (Demanded more pay)
    • “The protesters cried for reform.” (Demanded change)

4. To Make Something Wet (Verb – Liquid)

  • Meaning: To cause something to be wet with liquid, typically tears or rain. This is a less common usage, often in poetic or descriptive contexts.
  • Examples:
    • "The rain cried down on the city." (Rain falling)
    • "Her eyes cried with sorrow." (Tears making her eyes wet)

5. "Cry out" (Idiomatic Phrase - React Suddenly)

  • Meaning: To suddenly express a strong emotion, often pain or surprise.
  • Examples:
    • "He cried out in pain when he tripped."
    • “She cried out when she saw the accident.”

6. "Cry over spilled milk" (Idiomatic Phrase - Worry about something that can’t be changed)

  • Meaning: To be upset about something that has already happened and cannot be undone.
  • Example:
    • “Don’t cry over spilled milk – it’s done.”

Key Considerations & Tips:

  • Context is crucial: The meaning of "cry" depends entirely on how it's used in a sentence. Pay attention to the surrounding words.
  • Tense: "Cry" is usually in the present tense (e.g., "He cries") or past tense (e.g., "She cried").
  • Synonyms: Depending on the meaning, you can use synonyms like weep, sob, lament, wail, or moan.

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • What are you trying to do with the word "cry"? (e.g., write a story, answer a question, etc.)
  • Can you give me an example sentence you're working on so I can help you tweak it?

Synonyms for the word cry

Idioms of the word cry

cry foul
(informal)to complain that somebody else has done something wrong or unfair
    cry over spilt milk
    to waste time worrying about something that has happened that you cannot do anything about
    • As the saying goes—it's no use crying over spilt milk.
    cry wolf
    to call for help when you do not need it, with the result that when you do need it people do not believe you
      for crying out loud
      (informal)used to show you are angry or surprised
      • For crying out loud! Why did you have to do that?
      laugh till/until you cry
      to laugh so long and hard that there are tears in your eyes
        not know whether to laugh or cry
        (informal)to be unable to decide how to react to a bad situation
          a shoulder to cry on
          used to describe a person who listens to your problems and gives you sympathy
          • He was a fatherly shoulder to cry on when things went wrong.

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