How to Say "to fail" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “to fail” is “fallar” — A2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Fallé el examen de conducir por un punto.
I failed the driving test by one point.
No puedes fallarme esta vez; necesito tu ayuda.
You can't let me down this time; I need your help.
Si fallas en tu intento, vuelve a empezar.
If you fail in your attempt, start again.
Regular AR Verb
This verb is easy! It follows the standard pattern for all verbs ending in -ar, meaning you don't have to worry about tricky stem changes.
Mixing up 'fallar' and 'faltar'
Mistake: “Using 'Falté el examen' (I was absent from the exam) when you mean 'Fallé el examen' (I failed the exam).”
Correction: 'Faltar' means 'to be missing' or 'to be absent.' Use 'fallar' specifically for not succeeding.
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.