caen
/kah-ehn/
they fall
When objects move downwards, caen (they fall).
caen(verb)
they fall
?physical movement downwards
,you (plural) fall
?referring to 'ustedes'
they drop
?objects descending
,they tumble
?uncontrolled descent
📝 In Action
Cuando llueve mucho, las frutas maduras caen al suelo.
A1When it rains a lot, the ripe fruits fall to the ground.
¿Por qué ustedes siempre caen en los mismos errores?
A2Why do you (all) always fall into the same mistakes?
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Yo' Form is Special
The infinitive is 'caer' (ER ending), but the 'yo' form (I) changes to 'caigo' to keep the sound strong. All other forms, including 'caen', follow the standard conjugation pattern.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Prepositions
When something falls onto or into a place, Spanish usually uses the preposition 'a' or 'en': 'caer al suelo' (fall to the floor).
When structures or systems fail, caen (they collapse).
caen(verb)
they collapse
?structures, systems, or governments
,they decline
?reputation or status
they are located
?used impersonally, e.g., 'where the blame falls'
,they sink (into ruin)
?financial or moral decline
📝 In Action
Después de la crisis, los precios de las acciones caen rápidamente.
B1After the crisis, the stock prices collapse rapidly.
Cuando caen las lluvias fuertes, el río se desborda.
B1When the heavy rains fall, the river overflows.
When people are judged favorably, we use caen bien (they make a good impression).
caen(verb)
they make a good/bad impression
?used with 'bien' or 'mal'
,I like/dislike them
?when structured like 'gustar' (Me caen bien)
📝 In Action
Los nuevos profesores me caen muy bien, son muy amables.
A2I really like the new teachers (They make a good impression on me); they are very kind.
A mis padres no les caen bien tus amigos.
B1My parents don't like your friends (Your friends make a bad impression on my parents).
💡 Grammar Points
Acting Like 'Gustar'
When used with 'bien' (good) or 'mal' (bad), 'caer' works like the verb 'gustar'. The subject is the person/thing making the impression ('ellos caen'), and the person receiving the impression is introduced by 'me, te, le, nos, les'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't use 'gustar' for personality
Mistake: "Yo gusto a mis vecinos. (Literally: I am pleasing to my neighbors.)"
Correction: Yo caigo bien a mis vecinos. (My neighbors like me.) Use 'caer bien/mal' to describe how you feel about someone's personality, not 'gustar'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: caen
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'caen' in the idiomatic sense of making an impression?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
If 'caen' means 'they fall,' how do I say 'they drop something'?
To express actively dropping an object, you use the verb 'dejar caer' (to let fall). For example, 'Ellos dejan caer los libros' (They drop the books). 'Caen' means they fall accidentally or naturally.
Is 'caen' used for rain or snow?
Yes. When talking about precipitation, the verb 'caer' is commonly used: 'Cae la nieve' (The snow is falling). If you use 'caen,' you are emphasizing the plural nature of the precipitation, like 'Gotas caen' (Drops fall).