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faltar

fal-TARfalˈtaɾ

to be missing, to lack

Also: to need
VerbA1regular ar
A row of three cupcakes on a plate with one cupcake clearly missing, leaving an empty space.
gerundfaltando
infinitivefaltar
past Participlefaltado

📝 In Action

Me falta un calcetín.

A1

I am missing a sock.

Nos falta sal para la sopa.

A2

We lack salt for the soup.

Faltan tres sillas en el salón.

B1

Three chairs are missing from the living room.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • escasear (to be scarce)
  • carecer (to lack)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • falta de tiempo – lack of time
  • lo que me faltaba – just what I needed (sarcastic)

Idioms & Expressions

  • ¡No faltaba más! – Of course! or Don't mention it!

to be left

Also: to go
VerbA2regular ar
A person walking on a long path toward a distant small house.
gerundfaltando
infinitivefaltar
past Participlefaltado

📝 In Action

Faltan cinco minutos para las ocho.

A2

There are five minutes left until eight o'clock.

Faltan dos kilómetros para llegar.

A2

There are two kilometers left to arrive.

Aún falta mucho para el verano.

B1

There is still a long way to go until summer.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • restar (to remain/be left over)

Common Collocations

  • falta poco – it's almost time / it's close
  • falta mucho – it's a long way off

to miss, to skip

VerbB1regular ar
An empty wooden school desk in a classroom full of students.
gerundfaltando
infinitivefaltar
past Participlefaltado

📝 In Action

Juan faltó a clase ayer.

B1

Juan missed class yesterday.

No puedes faltar al trabajo sin avisar.

B1

You cannot skip work without giving notice.

Nunca falto a mis citas médicas.

B2

I never miss my medical appointments.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ausentarse (to be absent)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • faltar a clase – to miss/skip class
  • faltar a una cita – to miss an appointment

to be disrespectful, to break

Also: to insult
VerbB2regular ar
A child sticking their tongue out at an adult.
gerundfaltando
infinitivefaltar
past Participlefaltado

📝 In Action

No le faltes al respeto a tu abuelo.

B2

Don't be disrespectful to your grandfather.

Él faltó a su palabra y no vino.

B2

He broke his word and didn't come.

Me faltó el respeto delante de todos.

C1

He was rude to me in front of everyone.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • insultar (to insult)
  • incumplir (to fail to fulfill)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • faltar al respeto – to be disrespectful
  • faltar a la verdad – to lie / not tell the truth

Subjunctive

Present Subjunctive

yofalte
túfaltes
él/ella/ustedfalte
nosotrosfaltemos
vosotrosfaltéis
ellos/ellas/ustedesfalten

Imperfect Subjunctive

yofaltara
túfaltaras
él/ella/ustedfaltara
nosotrosfaltáramos
vosotrosfaltarais
ellos/ellas/ustedesfaltaran

Indicative

Present

yofalto
túfaltas
él/ella/ustedfalta
nosotrosfaltamos
vosotrosfaltáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesfaltan

Preterite

yofalté
túfaltaste
él/ella/ustedfaltó
nosotrosfaltamos
vosotrosfaltasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesfaltaron

Imperfect

yofaltaba
túfaltabas
él/ella/ustedfaltaba
nosotrosfaltábamos
vosotrosfaltabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesfaltaban
View All Tenses & Moods →

🔀 Commonly Confused With

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✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: faltar

Question 1 of 3

How do you say 'I am missing a book' in Spanish?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
la falta(mistake / absence) — Noun
faltante(missing / shortage) — Adjective
falto(lacking / short of) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'fallere', which meant 'to deceive' or 'to fail'. Over time, it evolved in Spanish to describe the act of failing to be present or failing to have enough of something.

First recorded: 12th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: failFrench: faillir

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'faltar' mean 'to miss someone'?

No. If you miss someone emotionally, use 'echar de menos' or 'extrañar'. 'Faltar' only means someone is physically missing or not present.

When do I use 'faltan' vs 'falta'?

Use 'falta' if only one thing is missing (Me falta un euro). Use 'faltan' if multiple things are missing (Me faltan dos euros).

Is 'faltar' regular?

Yes! It follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -ar in all tenses.