How to Say "fault" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “fault” is “culpa” — use 'culpa' when referring to personal responsibility or blame for something that went wrong..
culpa
/kool-pah//'kulpa/
Examples
No fue mi culpa, el vaso se cayó.
It wasn't my fault, the glass fell.
El conductor tuvo la culpa del accidente.
The driver was to blame for the accident.
Ella siente mucha culpa por lo que dijo.
She feels a lot of guilt for what she said.
Using 'Tener la culpa'
To say someone is at fault, you use the verb 'tener' (to have). Think of it like 'having the blame': 'Yo tengo la culpa' means 'It's my fault.'
'Por culpa de' for Negative Reasons
Use the phrase 'por culpa de' to explain the negative reason for something. It's the opposite of 'gracias a' (thanks to), which is only used for positive reasons.
Using 'Ser' instead of 'Tener'
Mistake: “A common mix-up is saying 'Es mi culpa'. While sometimes heard, it's much more standard to say 'Tengo la culpa'.”
Correction: Always try to use 'tener la culpa' to say someone is at fault. For example, 'Él tiene la culpa' (He is to blame).
Confusing 'por culpa de' and 'gracias a'
Mistake: “Using 'gracias a' for something negative, like 'Gracias a la lluvia, llegué tarde'.”
Correction: Use 'por culpa de' for negative outcomes: 'Por culpa de la lluvia, llegué tarde.' (Because of the rain, I was late). Reserve 'gracias a' for positive things: 'Gracias a tu ayuda, terminé.' (Thanks to your help, I finished).
defecto
/de-FEK-toh//deˈfektο/
Examples
Esta camisa tiene un pequeño defecto en la manga.
This shirt has a small defect in the sleeve.
Nadie es perfecto, todos tenemos nuestros defectos.
No one is perfect; we all have our flaws.
El coche tiene un defecto de fábrica.
The car has a factory defect.
Gender of 'defecto'
This word is masculine. Even when talking about a flaw in a woman or a feminine object, you always use 'el defecto' or 'un defecto'.
Fault vs. Defecto
Mistake: “Using 'defecto' to mean 'whose fault is it?'”
Correction: Use 'culpa' for responsibility. 'Defecto' is only for flaws or physical errors.
falla
/FAH-yah//ˈfa.ʎa/
Examples
Hay una falla en el sistema eléctrico del coche.
There is a fault in the car's electrical system.
La caída del servidor se debió a una falla humana.
The server crash was due to a human error.
Revisamos el informe pero no encontramos ninguna falla.
We checked the report but didn't find any mistake.
Using 'Falla' vs. 'Error'
'Falla' often refers to a malfunction or a structural defect (like in a machine or design). 'Error' is usually about a human mistake or calculation.
pecado
peh-CAH-doh/peˈkaðo/
Examples
Mentir por costumbre se considera un pecado grave.
Lying habitually is considered a serious sin.
El sacerdote habló sobre el arrepentimiento de los pecados.
The priest spoke about the repentance of sins.
Muchas culturas tienen ideas diferentes sobre lo que es un pecado.
Many cultures have different ideas about what a sin is.
Gender Reminder
Even though it ends in '-o', remember 'pecado' is always masculine, so use 'el pecado' or 'un pecado'.
pero
/peh-roh//'pe.ɾo/
Examples
El plan es casi perfecto, solo tiene un pero.
The plan is almost perfect, it just has one drawback.
No le pongas peros a todo lo que digo.
Don't find fault with everything I say.
Todo muy bonito, ¿dónde está el pero?
Everything is very nice, so where's the catch?
A Word for an Idea
When 'pero' is used like this, it's a noun—a word for a thing or an idea. Because it's a masculine noun, you'll see it with words like 'un', 'el', or 'ningún'.
Culpa vs. Defecto/Falla
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