"Falta" vs "Sin" ?

Question

I think they both mean to be without but is there a degree of difference or something that would help me to remember when to use them?

Answer 1

Well you could have a degree of something but still lack it (faltar) - maybe you can be kind every now and then but generally you lack that quality. If however you're without (sin) kindness you don't have it in any degree.

Is that what you mean?

Answer 2

Hi!!!

-The correct translation for "without" is "Sin". "Falta" is a completely different word which is NOT a preposition. You use "Falta" when something is like lost or missing and you can get it later.

-E.g.

-Nos falta gasolina para llegar a Westport / We're out of gas to get to Westport.

-Estoy sin ti / I´m without you

-And by the way, the translation for "Falta" is not "To lack", that's from google translate and it's lame. It´s better saying "out of".

Good point, alviva. But falta has many uses (nothing to do with google) http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/falta - ajaks, Dec 27, 2011

Thanks Alviva. - MexGuy, Dec 27, 2011

I don't thnk it's just google translate, I think you'll find that 'to be lacking/missing' is a common dictionary definition - For one the Concise Oxford Spanish Dictionary gives the definition 'to lack' - Kiwi-Girl, Dec 27, 2011

Falta: lack, absence, fault, foul, offense, etc. It has many, many uses. - gringojrf, Dec 27, 2011

2 simple words.....so many interpretations. I appreaciate your help and those of everyone who has partipcated. Gracias. - MexGuy, Dec 27, 2011

Answer 3

I'm only learning Spanish, so I don't have a lot of first-hand knowledge. I'm just an avid reader of dictionaries (Spanish or otherwise.) Part of the confusion here is that "faltar" is a verb and "falta" is both the third person sing. conjugation of faltar AND a noun. I think some of the answers refer to the verb form and others to the noun. I was posting about the noun.

All good you did well - falta (noun) de algo means lack of something, faltar (verb -including the present tense, third person singular falta) to be missing/lacking or to not be enough of - Kiwi-Girl, Dec 27, 2011

Thanks Kiwi. I always try to follow your lead as you seem to have a really good grasp of these things. - ajaks, Dec 28, 2011

aw thanx, that's kind of you, well we're all learning - I still have a long way to go too ;) - Kiwi-Girl, Dec 28, 2011

Answer 4

OK.....so if something should be there but is missing or in short supply (compasion, kindness, dinero, etc) I should use falta.

If something should not be there at all I should use sin.

Pretty much, although it is of course a possiblity that if you lack something you also don't have any of it - if 'me falta dinero' I may have some but not enough or I may not have any at all. But if I"m sin dinero then I definitely don't have any. - Kiwi-Girl, Dec 27, 2011

Gracias Kiwi. Creo que te entiendo bien. Y muchas gracias para sus explicanciones. - MexGuy, Dec 27, 2011

de nada :) - Kiwi-Girl, Dec 27, 2011

muchas gracias 'por' - another tricky one por vs para je je :) - Kiwi-Girl, Dec 27, 2011

yes...I'm still learning. Thanks again. - MexGuy, Dec 27, 2011

all good - keep up the good work! - Kiwi-Girl, Dec 27, 2011

Answer 5

Kiwi Girl is correct.

Sin is to be without. Falta is to lack.

Quedo sin dinero. I have no money. El vive sin amor. He lives without love.

Falto dinera para comer. I lack (enough) money to eat. Ellos faltan un persona para jugar. They lack one person to play.

Answer 6

So.....if something should be there but isn't (like enough salt in a recip).....that would be "falta"? But if something should not be there at all, it is "sin"?

that's a good example with the salt, you may but in one spoonful but still say 'le falta sal' but if the recipe says los hacen sin sal - then you make them without salt - Kiwi-Girl, Dec 27, 2011

The soup is almost ready, but it needs more salt - falta. My doctor says I should cut down on salt so I buy the no-salt soup - sin. - ajaks, Dec 27, 2011

Thanks ajaks. - MexGuy, Dec 27, 2011

Good question, MexGuy. Did you look up falta in this dictionary? You can use sin & falta in the same phrase. Sin falta - without fail. - ajaks, Dec 27, 2011

ooops 'put in' lol - Kiwi-Girl, Dec 27, 2011

ajaks......thanks much. Appreciate the additional insight on how to use these words. - MexGuy, Dec 27, 2011

And I'm learning from you, so... returning thanks and then some :) - ajaks, Dec 28, 2011