cae
/kah-eh/
falls
Cae (It falls) describes physical movement downward.
cae(verb)
falls
?physical movement downward
,drops
?loses grip of something
tumbles
?when falling awkwardly
📝 In Action
Si no tienes cuidado, el jarrón cae al suelo.
A1If you are not careful, the vase falls to the floor.
Siempre que llueve, la temperatura cae.
A2Whenever it rains, the temperature drops.
Ella tropieza y cae de rodillas.
B1She trips and falls to her knees.
💡 Grammar Points
The Irregular 'Yo' Form
The 'yo' form (I) is special: 'caigo'. This extra 'g' sound helps the word flow better and is a common pattern in Spanish verbs.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'caer' and 'dejar caer'
Mistake: "Using 'cae' when you mean 'drops (on purpose)'."
Correction: Use 'deja caer' (lets fall) for intentional dropping: 'Ella deja caer la pluma' (She drops the pen). 'La pluma cae' means the pen falls by itself.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Time
You can use 'cae' to talk about sudden or unexpected changes, especially in weather or mood, like 'cae la lluvia' (the rain falls).
When something cae well (or badly), it means it is liked (or disliked) by someone.
cae(verb)
is liked (by)
?used with 'me', 'te', 'le', etc.
,suits
?fits or is appropriate for someone
is appealing
?describing a person's personality
📝 In Action
Tu amigo me cae muy bien. Es muy gracioso.
A2I really like your friend. He is very funny. (Literally: Your friend falls well to me.)
La idea no le cae a la jefa.
B1The boss doesn't like the idea (or: the idea doesn't sit well with the boss).
Ese color no te cae nada bien.
B2That color doesn't suit you at all.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Gustar' Structure
When 'cae' means 'is liked,' it works like the verb 'gustar.' The person being liked is the grammatical subject (the 'who' doing the action), and the person doing the liking is the indirect object (using 'me, te, le, nos, les').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'yo' instead of 'me'
Mistake: "Saying 'Yo caigo bien ella' (I fall well her) to mean 'I like her'."
Correction: You must use the pronoun 'le' or 'a ella' for the person being liked: 'Ella me cae bien' (She falls well to me).
⭐ Usage Tips
Personality vs. Object
'Caer bien/mal' is almost always used for judging a person's personality or demeanor, not for liking objects like food or movies (where you would use 'gustar').
Cae is used to say that an event or date occurs or happens.
📝 In Action
Este año, el Día de Reyes cae en domingo.
B1This year, Three Kings Day falls (or happens) on a Sunday.
El golpe cae justo en el centro de la mesa.
B2The blow lands right in the center of the table.
¿Cuándo cae tu cumpleaños?
B1When does your birthday fall?
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cae
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'cae' to express a personal opinion about someone?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the 'yo' form 'caigo' and not 'caeo'?
This is an ancient irregularity in Spanish. The 'g' was added (making it a 'go' verb) to maintain a stronger sound and distinguish it from other verbs. You just need to memorize that 'I fall' is 'yo caigo'!
What is the difference between 'cae' and 'se cae'?
'Cae' (third person singular) means something falls or drops (like a leaf or the rain). 'Se cae' (from the reflexive verb 'caerse') usually means someone falls down, emphasizing the action happening to the subject (like 'He falls down' = 'Él se cae').