cayendo
“cayendo” means “falling” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
falling, dropping
Also: tumbling
📝 In Action
Mira el cielo, la lluvia ya está cayendo.
A1Look at the sky, the rain is already falling.
Ten cuidado, el niño estuvo cayendo por las escaleras.
A2Be careful, the child was falling down the stairs.
declining, sinking
Also: failing, coming down with
📝 In Action
Los precios de la vivienda han estado cayendo todo el año.
B1Housing prices have been declining all year.
Siento que estoy cayendo enfermo.
B1I feel like I am coming down with something (falling ill).
El dictador estaba cayendo en desgracia ante el público.
B2The dictator was falling out of favor with the public.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: cayendo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'cayendo' to describe an ongoing action?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *cadere*, meaning 'to fall' or 'to drop.' The gerund form has maintained the same function for centuries, describing ongoing movement downward, both physically and metaphorically.
First recorded: Old Spanish (around 10th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'cayendo' have a 'y' instead of an 'i' like 'comiendo'?
This is a special pronunciation rule for Spanish verbs whose root ends in a vowel, like c-a-er. When the root vowel meets the 'i' of the -iendo ending, the 'i' changes to a 'y' (c-a-yendo) to ensure the word flows smoothly when spoken. This happens with verbs like 'leer' (leyendo) and 'oír' (oyendo) too.
Can I use 'cayendo' by itself without 'estar'?
Yes, but it changes its function. If you say 'Vi el pájaro cayendo' (I saw the bird falling), 'cayendo' acts like an adjective describing the bird's action. If you want to describe an action happening right now, you must use 'estar cayendo'.