fallecido
/fa-yeh-SEE-tho/
deceased
A white lily is often used as a respectful symbol for someone who is deceased.
fallecido(adjective)
deceased
?polite way to refer to a dead person
late
?as in 'the late Mr. Smith'
,departed
?soft/gentle reference to death
📝 In Action
Hicieron una ceremonia en honor al actor fallecido.
B1They held a ceremony in honor of the deceased actor.
Sus abuelos ya están fallecidos.
B1Her grandparents are already deceased.
💡 Grammar Points
Using the '-o' and '-a' endings
Even though we are looking at 'fallecido,' remember to change the last letter to 'a' (fallecida) when describing a woman.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Fallecido vs. Muerto
Mistake: "Using 'fallecido' for a pet."
Correction: Use 'muerto' for animals; 'fallecido' is a respectful term specifically for humans.
⭐ Usage Tips
When to use it
Use this word instead of 'muerto' when you want to be respectful, similar to how we say 'passed away' instead of 'died' in English.
The items left behind can serve as a gentle reminder of the deceased.
fallecido(noun)
the deceased
?referring to the person who died
victim
?often used in news reporting of accidents
📝 In Action
El fallecido no llevaba identificación.
B2The deceased was not carrying identification.
Los familiares del fallecido llegaron al hospital.
B2The relatives of the deceased arrived at the hospital.
💡 Grammar Points
Turning a description into a person
In Spanish, you can put 'el' or 'la' in front of this word to turn it from 'deceased' into 'the deceased person.'
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: fallecido
Question 1 of 1
Which word is the most respectful to use at a funeral?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'fallecido' for my goldfish?
Technically people might understand you, but it sounds very strange. In Spanish, 'fallecido' is reserved for humans. For animals, always use 'muerto'.
How do I make it plural?
Simply add an 's': 'los fallecidos' for a group of people who have died.