faltar

=

to miss

verb

faltar
intransitive verb
1. to be lacking, to be needed (no haber)
  • falta aire -> there's not enough air
  • falta sal -> it needs a bit of salt
2. (no tener)
  • le faltan las fuerzas -> he lacks o doesn't have the strength
  • le falta experiencia -> she lacks experience
  • me faltan palabras para expresar mi agradecimiento -> I can't find the words to express my gratitude
3. to be necessary (hacer falta)
  • me falta tiempo -> I need time
  • para que su felicidad fuera completa sólo faltaba que viniera su hijo -> all it needed to make her happiness complete was for her son to arrive
  • ¡lo que me faltaba! -> that's all I needed!
  • sólo le faltó ponerse a llorar -> he did everything but burst into tears
4. (quedar)
  • falta mucho por hacer -> there is still a lot to be done
  • sólo te falta firmar -> all you have to do is sign
  • falta un mes para las vacaciones -> there's a month to go till the holidays
  • ¿cuánto falta para Leeds? -> how much further is it to Leeds?
  • falta poco para que llegue -> it won't be long till he arrives
  • faltó poco para que le matase -> I very nearly killed him
5. to be absent o missing (estar ausente)
  • falta Elena -> Elena is missing
  • el día que yo falte -> when I have passed on
6. (no acudir)
  • sólo faltaron mis padres -> only my parents weren't there o failed to turn up
  • faltar a una cita -> not to turn up at an appointment
  • ¡no faltes (a la cita)! -> don't miss it!, be there!
  • ha faltado a clase tres veces -> she has been absent o off three days
7. (no cumplir)
  • faltó a su palabra -> she went back on her word, she broke o didn't keep her word
  • faltó a su obligación -> he neglected his duty
  • faltó a la verdad -> she wasn't being truthful, she wasn't telling the truth
8. (expresiones)
  • ¡no faltaba o faltaría más! -> of course! (asentimiento)
  • faltar a alguien al respeto (rechazo) -> to be disrespectful to somebody

Copyright © 2006 Chambers Harrap Publishers Limited

faltar [fartar']
verb neuter
1. To be deficient, to be wanting (ser necesario). (n)
2. To fail (fallar), to falter, to fault, to flinch. (n)
3. To be consumed, to fall short. (n)
4. Not to fulfil one's promise, not to perform one's engagement. (n)
5. To need, to lack, to be in want of. (n)
6. To die. (n)
  • Faltar a su palabra -> to fall back
  • Le falta dinero -> he lacks money
  • Nos falta tiempo para hacerlo -> we lack the time to do it
  • Faltaron 3 en la reunión -> there were 3 missing in the meeting
  • Fatar al trabajo -> to stay away
  • Faltar en hacer algo -> to fail to do something, Faltan pocos minutos para el comienzo, there's only a few minutes to go till the start
  • Falta poco para terminar -> it's almost over

Velazquez® Spanish and English Dictionary. Copyright © 2007 by Velazquez® Press. All rights reserved.

Verb Conjugation for "faltar"

Infinitive
faltar
Gerund
faltando
Participle
faltado
Presente Pretérito Imperfect Futuro Subjuntivo
Yo falto falté faltaba faltaré falte
Tú faltas faltaste faltabas faltarás faltes
Ella/Él/Usted falta faltó faltaba faltará falte
Nosotros faltamos faltamos faltábamos faltaremos faltemos
Vosotros faltáis faltasteis faltabais faltaréis faltéis
Ellos/Ustedes faltan faltaron faltaban faltarán falten
Complete faltar conjugation

"faltar" in the Answers forum
Q: In my verb book under faltar it states "(like gustar)". What does that mean?
A: You may translate faltar as *"be lacking to someone/something"*, e.g.: ***"Me falta experiencia"*** - The experience is lacking to me = I lack experience.…
Q: Faltar
A: Something like "I am the only one left I go to Mexico" or "Going to Mexico lacks you", which makes no sense in either case. This verb is used like this:…
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