falló
/fa-YO/
failed / missed
A missed shot illustrates 'falló' as failing to hit a target.
falló(verb)
failed / missed
?when someone makes a mistake or doesn't hit a target
blew it
?informal way to say someone messed up an opportunity
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
The Accent Matters
The 'ó' at the end tells you this happened in the past. Without it, 'fallo' means 'I fail' or simply 'a mistake'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'falló' with 'murió'
Mistake: "Using falló to mean someone passed away."
Correction: Use 'falleció' for people. 'Falló' is for actions or machines.
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on the Result
Use 'falló' when you want to emphasize that a specific action didn't work out as planned.
A broken appliance shows 'falló' in the context of a machine stopping.
falló(verb)
broke down / stopped working
?for machines, engines, or systems
gave out
?when a part of the body, like the heart, stops functioning
📝 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.
A gavel represents 'falló' as the act of a judge making an official ruling.
📝 In Action
El juez falló a favor del acusado.
C1The judge ruled in favor of the accused.
⭐ Usage Tips
Legal Language
In news reports about court cases, 'falló' always refers to the final decision made by the court.
🔄 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
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.