Inklingo

How to Say "are left" in Spanish

English → Spanish

quedan

KAY-dahn/ˈkeðan/

verbA1general
Use 'quedan' when referring to a general quantity of items or people that still exist or are available.
A transparent jar on a table containing only a few cookies, symbolizing a remaining quantity.

Examples

Solo quedan tres galletas en el plato.

Only three cookies are left on the plate.

Después de la liquidación, quedan pocos productos.

After the sale, few products remain.

Nos quedan dos horas para terminar el trabajo.

We have two hours left to finish the job. (Literally: Two hours remain to us...)

Structure like 'Gustar'

When talking about time or items 'remaining for us,' Spanish uses an indirect pronoun (like 'nos') before 'quedan.' The item remaining is the actual subject.

Mixing up 'quedan' and 'hay'

Mistake: “Using 'quedan' when you simply mean 'there are' for the first time.”

Correction: Use 'hay' (there are) to introduce something new, and 'quedan' (there are still/left) to emphasize what remains after something else has been taken away.

faltan

FAHL-tahn/ˈfal.tan/

verbA2general
Use 'faltan' when referring to time, quantity, or items that are missing to reach a goal or complete something.
A storybook image showing a nearly depleted stack of red building blocks, with only three blocks still standing, illustrating what quantity is left.

Examples

Faltan solo diez páginas para terminar el libro.

Only ten pages are left to finish the book.

¡Faltan cinco minutos para que empiece la película!

There are five minutes left until the movie starts!

Counting Down

When counting down time, always use 'faltar' in the third person. If the unit of time is plural (minutes, hours, days), use 'faltan'.

Confusing 'quedan' and 'faltan'

Learners often confuse 'quedan' and 'faltan' because both relate to remaining quantities. Remember, 'quedan' is for what is still present, while 'faltan' highlights what is missing to achieve a total or finish something.

Related Translations

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