Faltar

Faltar is a Spanish verb with meanings centered on absence, incompleteness, or not being present. It can indicate that someone or something is missing, or that a quantity or condition is not yet fulfilled. The term is used both intransitively and in several fixed expressions.

In the sense of absence or nonattendance, faltar describes a person or thing that is not where it is expected. Examples include faltar a clase (to miss class) and faltar a una cita (to miss a appointment). It can also express that someone did not attend an event, as in faltó la reunión.

In the sense of lacking or needing, faltar expresses a deficiency or the need for something. Common constructions are me falta dinero (I lack money) or hace falta un plan (a plan is needed). The impersonal form se usa to indicate general necessity, as in hace falta más tiempo (more time is needed). Faltar to a requirement or standard is also possible, as in faltar al respeto (to show disrespect to someone).

To indicate time remaining or missing portions, faltar is used with numbers or time expressions: faltan dos días (two days remain) or falta una hora para terminar (one hour is left to finish). In many contexts, the phrase quedarse corto or estar a falta de can be used synonymously with a shortfall.

Conjugation notes: faltar follows the regular -ar conjugation pattern. Present indicative forms include falto, faltas, falta, faltamos, faltáis, faltan; preterite forms are falté, faltaste, faltó, faltamos, faltasteis, faltaron. Subjunctive present forms are falte, faltes, falte, faltemos, falteis, falten. The literal past participle is faltado.

Etymology: the word unfolds from the Spanish vocabulary related to the notion of being absent or incomplete, with a semantic field linked to lacking or failing to meet an expectation.