llorando vs. llanto

Question

What is the difference between the two? I know llorando is a gerund (ing word) of the verb llorar. And I know llanto is a noun. But, they both mean 'crying'.

"llorando" means that at this time this by performing the action, for example: I'm crying. and "llanto" for example: "el niño soltó el llanto cuando se le escapó el globo" - aryta, Sep 10, 2013

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Answer 1

It is just like the difference in English between a noun and an 'ing' verb. The confusion comes because our word in English is the same for both noun and verb. Spanish does not have the same word for these.

She was crying. (llorando)

Her crying drove them crazy. (llanto)

One is a thing that is done, the other is the actual doing of it.

bien dicho amiga - rogspax, Sep 9, 2013

Answer 2

I always looked at llorar/llorando as normal crying and llanto as stronger more like bawling uncontrollably.

Just my take on it.

Answer 3

In Spanish, the infinitive can usually be used as a noun.

Example:

Me gusta bailar. I like dancing.

Bailar es buena para la salud. Dancing is good for the/your health.

When, in the rare (I think) case, there is a noun which could substitute for the infinitive form of the verb as is the case with llanto, is it still correct to use the infirnitive?

In other words, can one say either:

No me gusta el lanto
No me gusta llorar

If so, is one more common than the other.
Do they mean exactly the same thing?

No me gusta el llanto-- I don't like the crying ( that soembody else does). No me gusta llorar. I don't like to cry ( myself, I'm a man!) - annierats, May 30, 2015

Annie: In most cases the infinitive can mean either to-verb or verb-ing. Are you saying that because there is a noun for verb-ing in this case that the only possible meaning of the infinitive becomes to-verb? Thanks what I'm trying to find out. - DilKen, May 30, 2015