Spanish word

recaer

Pronunciation

IPA/rekaˈeɾ/

Meaning

  • verbfall into

Example

Después de dejar la dieta, recaí en malos hábitos.

After stopping the diet, I fell into bad habits.

Illustration for recaer (fall into)

More examples

Si falla el proyecto, la responsabilidad recaerá sobre el jefe.

If the project fails, the responsibility will fall on the boss.

Core concept

A person relapsing into an illness or bad habit.

Common phrases

  • recaer sobre alguien

    fall on someone

  • recaer en errores

    fall into mistakes

  • recaer en la depresión

    fall into depression

Similar words

empeorar: Worsen in health, symptoms, or condition, showing further decline.
reaparecer: Reappear after disappearing, as a symptom or sign that comes back.

Definition in Spanish

Volver a caer en un estado negativo, como una enfermedad o un mal hábito; también indicar que una carga, responsabilidad o consecuencia recae sobre alguien.

Word origin

From the prefix re- 'again' plus caer 'to fall' (from Latin cadere), literally meaning 'to fall again'.

Usage tips

  • The verb commonly uses recaer en + noun for relapsing into a condition and recaer en or recaer sobre alguien when a responsibility or consequence falls on a person.

Other meanings

  • relapseverb
  • rest uponverb

Opposites

  • superarovercomeverb
  • recuperarserecoververb

Related words

  • recaídarelapsenoun
  • recaídorelapsedadjective

Word lists with this word