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"Fallar" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to fail", and "faltar" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to miss". Learn more about the difference between "fallar" and "faltar" below.
fallar(
fah
-
yahr
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to stop working
El motor de mi auto falló esta mañana.My car engine stopped working this morning.
a. to fail
Le di otra oportunidad y me falló otra vez.I gave her another chance and she failed me again.
b. to let down
Sé qué te fallé, profesor. - No me fallaste, Beto; te fallaste a ti mismo.I know I let you down, professor. - You didn't let me down, Beto; you let yourself down.
4. (to break)
a. to give way
La columna falló y el edificio se derrumbó.The column gave way and the building collapsed.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
6. (to not hit)
7. (to mistake)
faltar(
fahl
-
tahr
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to miss
Si falto a clase una vez más, suspenderé la asignatura.If I miss the class one more time, I will fail the subject.
b. to not turn up at
¿Así que has faltado a tu cita con el dentista?So you didn't turn up at your appointment with the dentist?
a. to be missing
No puedo terminar de montar el armario porque faltan tres tornillos.I can't finish assembling the closet because there are three screws missing.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Es buena cocinera, pero le falta experiencia.She's a good cook, but she lacks experience.
Hubo tantos asistentes que faltaban sillas en la sala.There were so many attendants that the room was short of chairs.
4. (to remain)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
A la sopa le faltan 10 minutos.The soup needs another 10 minutes.
Faltan dos meses para que sea Navidad.There are two months to go till Christmas.
a. to break
Dijo que dejaría de fumar, pero al final faltó a su promesa.He said he would quit smoking, but in the end he broke his promise.
b. to not keep
No esperes que te devuelva el dinero porque suele faltar a su palabra.Don't expect to get your money back from him because he doesn't usually keep his word.
