falló
“falló” means “failed / missed” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
failed / missed
Also: blew it
📝 In Action
El jugador falló el penal en el último minuto.
A2The player missed the penalty in the last minute.
Intentó arreglarlo, pero falló.
A2He tried to fix it, but he failed.
broke down / stopped working
Also: gave out
📝 In Action
El motor falló en medio del viaje.
B1The engine broke down in the middle of the trip.
A mi abuelo le falló el corazón.
B1My grandfather's heart gave out.
ruled / judged
📝 In Action
El juez falló a favor del acusado.
C1The judge ruled in favor of the accused.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
present
imperfect
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: falló
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'falló' to describe a mechanical problem?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'fallere', which meant 'to deceive' or 'to trick'. Over time, the meaning shifted from tricking someone to simply failing or making a mistake.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'falló' for people dying?
Not exactly. While you can say 'le falló el corazón' (his heart failed), for the act of passing away, you should use 'falleció'.
Is 'falló' always negative?
Usually, yes, as it implies a mistake or breakdown. However, in law, it simply means a ruling was made, which could be positive or negative depending on which side you are on.