Difference between Perder and Faltar

Question

I am looking for some insight into the difference between the use of Perder and Faltar when speaking of being absent or missing an event? For instance, if I say that I am missing a day of work I believe you would use the verb faltar... But if you say I am missing the TV show you would use perder...

Now, I am just beginning in Spanish and could be totally off base here. I look forward to getting to the difference of the two verbs... I am not the type of learner that just accepts how things are, I have to seek to understand the why...

Thanks...

Answer 1

I once had a Spanish teacher who taught me a very important lesson. We had a student in the class who always asked, "Why?". One day the teacher lost patience and said, "This is a language! There is no 'why'! That's just the way they do it!" The point being, languages aren't necessarily logical. The logic is applied after the fact by grammar teachers.

I will miss a day of work:

Faltaré un día de trabajo.

Perderé un día de trabajo.

Echaré de menos un día de trabajo.

You pays your money, you takes your choice.

Kevin, I appreciate your answer on sometimes you just have to accept and move forward. But to say that languages aren't necessarily logical I do not necessarily agree. There is a reason why I would use faltar over perder and vice verse. - kerflop, May 19, 2010

And as someone with a logical mind (which sometimes is a roadblock when learning Spanish) I wish to understand. I have moved forward with using of the words, but have now circled back around to understand. Thanks for your help... - kerflop, May 19, 2010

I'm an engineer, so I'm also a big believer in logic. But it doesn't always work with languages. If it's any consolation, Spanish is the most logical natural language - KevinB, May 19, 2010

Answer 2

Hello Kerflop. Generally speaking, "perder" can be used as to lose or misplace. "Faltar" can be used as to miss or to skip. Not always exact, but should give you an idea.

Answer 3

Basically the same usages as the English; "perder" "lose" and "faltar" "lack". Naturally and equally like English there are some not tottally obvious usages which you can only pick up by reading/listening/asking.