Spanish Conversation · Level 32
90 words
Spanish word
caer
Pronunciation
IPA/kaˈeɾ/
Meaning
- verbfall
Example
La hoja cae del árbol.
The leaf falls from the tree.
More examples
El vaso cae de la mesa.
The glass falls off the table.
Core concept
A leaf falling from a branch.
Common phrases
caer al suelo
fall to the ground
caer de la mesa
fall off the table
caer de la bicicleta
fall off the bicycle
Similar words
caerse: Falls down naturally under gravity and comes to rest on the ground.
tropezar: Stumbles while walking when the foot catches on or hits an obstacle.
resbalar: Slips on a smooth or wet surface and loses footing, causing a fall.
bajar: Goes down stairs or a slope by deliberate movement.
Definition in Spanish
Descender desde una posición más alta a otra más baja, generalmente por la acción de la gravedad o por pérdida de apoyo.
Word origin
From Latin cadere 'to fall', with the medial d lost in Old Spanish so caer preserves the basic sense of moving from a higher position to a lower one.
Usage tips
- Spanish often uses the reflexive caerse for accidental or involuntary falls, and caer bien/mal is an idiom meaning 'to like' or 'to dislike' rather than a physical fall.