cayendo
/kah-YEN-doh/
falling
"Cayendo" means 'falling' when describing physical movement or weather, like a leaf drifting from a tree.
cayendo(verb)
falling
?physical movement/weather
,dropping
?physical movement
tumbling
?rapid, uncontrolled fall
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Forming Progressive Tenses
Use 'cayendo' after a form of 'estar' (to be) to show an action happening right now: 'El libro está cayendo' (The book is falling).
The Irregular 'Y'
When the root of a verb ends in a vowel (like c-a-er), the 'i' of the -iendo ending changes to a 'y' (cayendo). This makes the pronunciation smoother.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong gerund form
Mistake: "The rock is falling: *La roca está caíndo* (using -iendo incorrectly)."
Correction: The correct form is *La roca está cayendo*. Remember the vowel change to 'y' after 'a'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Ongoing vs. Finished Action
Use 'cayendo' for the process of falling, but use the past participle 'caído' (fallen) with 'haber' to talk about the finished result: 'Ha caído' (It has fallen).
When used to describe value or quantity, "cayendo" means 'declining' or 'decreasing.'
cayendo(verb)
declining
?value or quantity
,sinking
?figurative, e.g., into despair or debt
failing
?e.g., a business or empire
,coming down with
?e.g., falling ill
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Idiomatic Use: Realizing Something
The phrase 'estar cayendo en la cuenta' means you are currently realizing or understanding something important. It describes the moment the realization hits you.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Translating 'Coming Down With'
Mistake: "*Estoy viniendo abajo con un resfriado* (literal translation of coming down)."
Correction: Use 'Estoy cayendo enfermo' or 'Me estoy resfriando' for falling ill. 'Cayendo' here describes the onset of sickness.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Prepositions
When used figuratively, 'cayendo' almost always needs a preposition like 'en' (into) or 'bajo' (under) to define the figurative destination, e.g., 'cayendo en la trampa' (falling into the trap).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cayendo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'cayendo' to describe an ongoing action?
📚 More Resources
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'.