caído
“caído” means “fallen” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
fallen, dropped
📝 In Action
El niño se ha caído de la cama.
A1The child has fallen out of bed.
¿Alguna vez has caído en esa trampa?
A2Have you ever fallen into that trap?
fallen, dropped
Also: sagging, downcast
📝 In Action
Las hojas caídas cubrían todo el jardín.
A2The fallen leaves covered the whole garden.
Se levantó con el ánimo caído después de perder.
B1He got up with his spirits downcast after losing.
El muro estaba caído y necesitaba reparación urgente.
A2The wall was fallen (down) and needed urgent repair.
casualty, the fallen (person)
📝 In Action
El presidente honró la memoria de los caídos en combate.
B2The president honored the memory of those fallen in combat.
Se erigió un monumento a los caídos de la revolución.
C1A monument was erected to the casualties of the revolution.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: caído
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'caído' as an adjective describing a state?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
*Caído* comes directly from the Latin verb *cadere*, meaning 'to fall.' The Spanish word kept the core idea of movement downward, whether physical (a drop) or metaphorical (a defeat or sadness).
First recorded: 10th century (in the form of the verb *caer*)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'caído' irregular?
The verb it comes from, *caer* (to fall), is irregular in many forms, but the past participle *caído* is formed regularly by adding -ído to the stem, just like *comido* (eaten) or *vivido* (lived).
When do I use 'caído' vs. 'caída'?
When *caído* is used as an adjective (meaning 'fallen' or 'sagging'), it must agree with the noun it describes. Use *caído* for masculine singular nouns (el árbol caído) and *caída* for feminine singular nouns (la rama caída).