falta
/fahl-tah/
lack
As a noun, falta means 'lack' or 'shortage.' This image shows the lack of food in the basket.
falta(Noun)
lack
?absence of something
,shortage
?not having enough
mistake
?an error or fault
,absence
?not being present, e.g., from class
,foul
?in sports
📝 In Action
La falta de lluvia es un problema para los agricultores.
B1The lack of rain is a problem for the farmers.
Tengo una falta en la clase de historia de hoy.
A2I have an absence in today's history class.
Cometer una falta en el examen te puede costar caro.
B1Making a mistake on the exam can cost you dearly.
El árbitro pitó una falta cerca del área.
B2The referee called a foul near the penalty box.
💡 Grammar Points
Expressing 'Lack of...'
To say 'a lack of something', you almost always use the structure 'la falta de' followed by the thing you don't have enough of. For example, 'la falta de dinero' (the lack of money).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting 'de'
Mistake: "Tengo falta tiempo."
Correction: Tengo falta de tiempo. Remember to include 'de' to connect 'falta' to the thing that is lacking.
⭐ Usage Tips
The Super-Useful Phrase 'hacer falta'
The phrase 'hace falta' means 'it's necessary' or 'is needed'. It's incredibly common. 'Hace falta más pan' means 'We need more bread' (literally, 'More bread makes a lack').
The verb faltar (conjugated here as falta) means 'to be lacking' or 'to be missing,' like a piece missing from a puzzle.
falta(Verb)
to be lacking
?when something is missing from a whole
,to be missing
?when something isn't there
to be absent
?to not attend something, like a class
,to remain
?how much time/distance is left
,to disrespect
?in the phrase 'faltar al respeto'
📝 In Action
A la sopa le falta sal.
A2The soup is lacking salt. (It needs salt.)
Falta un jugador en nuestro equipo.
A2Our team is missing a player.
Falta una hora para que empiece la película.
B1There's one hour left until the movie starts.
Si me falta al respeto otra vez, me iré.
B2If he disrespects me again, I'll leave.
💡 Grammar Points
Works Like 'Gustar'
Often, the thing that is missing is the star of the sentence. Think of 'Falta sal' as 'Salt is lacking'. To say who is missing it, add a little word like 'me', 'te', 'le'. 'Me falta sal' means 'Salt is lacking to me' or 'I'm short on salt'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Missing a Person vs. Being Absent
Mistake: "Falto a mi familia."
Correction: Echo de menos a mi familia. Use 'faltar a' for being absent from a place (like class). To talk about the feeling of missing someone you love, use 'echar de menos' or 'extrañar'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Asking 'How Much is Left?'
To ask how much time or distance is left, 'faltar' is perfect. You can ask '¿Cuánto falta?' (How much is left?) or '¿Cuánto tiempo falta?' (How much time is left?).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: falta
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'falta' to mean 'A mistake'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'hace falta' and just 'falta'?
Great question! 'Hace falta' means something is necessary or needed in general ('Hace falta estudiar' - It's necessary to study). 'Falta' (from the verb faltar) usually means a specific thing is missing ('Falta un huevo para la receta' - One egg is missing for the recipe). Think of 'hace falta' as 'is needed' and 'falta' as 'is missing'.
Can I say 'Te falto' to mean 'You miss me'?
While you might hear it sometimes, it's much more common and clearer to use 'Me echas de menos' or 'Me extrañas' to say 'You miss me'. 'Te falto' sounds more like 'You are missing me (from your group)' or 'I am lacking to you', which can be a bit awkward.