cayeron
/kah-YEH-rohn/
they fell
In the context of physical movement, 'cayeron' means 'they fell,' like these apples dropping from the tree.
cayeron(Verb (Past Tense Form))
they fell
?Physical movement downwards
,they dropped
?Objects falling
they tumbled
?Falling suddenly or awkwardly
📝 In Action
Las llaves se deslizaron de la mesa y **cayeron** al suelo.
A1The keys slipped off the table and fell to the floor.
Los excursionistas se resbalaron en el hielo y **cayeron** unos metros.
A2The hikers slipped on the ice and fell a few meters.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Y' Change in the Past
The verb 'caer' is irregular in the simple past (Preterite). Notice how the 'i' changes to a 'y' in forms like 'cayó' and 'cayeron'. This happens because the 'i' is surrounded by other vowel sounds.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'y'
Mistake: "They might incorrectly say 'caieron'."
Correction: Always remember the 'y' replacement: 'cayeron'. This change is also present in other verbs like 'leer' (leyeron) and 'creer' (creyeron).
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on Completion
Cayeron describes an action that started and finished completely at a specific point in the past. It means 'they fell' and that event is over.
When referring to a structure or system failure, 'cayeron' means 'they collapsed.'
cayeron(Verb (Past Tense Form))
they collapsed
?A system, organization, or building failure
,they were defeated
?Military or political failure
they dropped (financially)
?Prices or values decreasing sharply
📝 In Action
Ante la evidencia, los argumentos de la defensa **cayeron** fácilmente.
B1Faced with the evidence, the defense's arguments collapsed easily.
Los precios del petróleo **cayeron** a su nivel más bajo en una década.
B2Oil prices dropped to their lowest level in a decade.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Use
Just like in English, 'to fall' can describe failure or a sudden decrease. If you are talking about prices, governments, or moods, 'cayeron' means they went down or failed completely.
⭐ Usage Tips
Political Context
When talking about politics or history, saying 'el régimen cayó' (the regime fell) or 'cayeron' (they were defeated) is very common.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cayeron
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'cayeron' to mean 'they were defeated'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'cayeron' past tense or present tense?
It is the simple past tense (Preterite). It describes an action of falling that was completed and finished in the past.
Why is the base form 'caer' but the past form is 'cayeron'?
'Caer' is an irregular verb. In the simple past, the verb stem changes slightly (from 'caí-' to 'cay-') to make the pronunciation flow better when the vowel sounds are next to each other.