caí
“caí” means “I fell” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
I fell
Also: I dropped
📝 In Action
Me tropecé con el cable y **caí** al suelo.
A1I tripped on the cable and I fell to the ground.
Cuando abrí la puerta, **caí** en un charco.
A2When I opened the door, I fell into a puddle.
I fell (into a state)
Also: I was tricked, I succumbed
📝 In Action
Me sentía cansado, y sin querer, **caí** dormido en el sofá.
B1I felt tired, and without meaning to, I fell asleep on the sofa.
Él me dijo una mentira enorme, ¡pero no **caí**!
B2He told me a huge lie, but I didn't fall for it!
**Caí** en la cuenta de que había olvidado mi billetera.
C1I realized (literally: I fell into the account) that I had forgotten my wallet.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: caí
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'caí' in its figurative meaning?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word 'caer' comes directly from the Latin verb *cadere*, meaning 'to fall' or 'to sink'. The specific past tense form 'caí' developed naturally in Spanish but keeps the strong stress on the 'i' from the original Latin root.
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'caí' have an accent mark?
The accent on the 'í' is necessary to break up the vowel sounds. Without it, 'ai' would be pronounced as a single syllable. The accent ensures the stress falls on the 'i' and that you pronounce the word clearly as two syllables: 'ca-í'.
Is 'caí' used for both physical and emotional falling?
Yes, absolutely! 'Caí' works for physically falling down, but it's also used for emotional states like 'caer enamorado' (to fall in love) or mental states like 'caer en la cuenta' (to realize).