faltó

Faltó is a Spanish verb that means "to lack" or "to be missing." It is commonly used to express the absence or shortage of something or someone. The verb is irregular in its conjugation patterns and belongs to the group of stem-changing verbs.

The word faltó originates from the Latin "fallere," which meant "to deceive" or "to fail." Over time, its meaning evolved in Spanish to indicate absence or deficiency. In modern usage, faltó serves multiple grammatical functions within sentences.

As a transitive verb, faltó can take direct objects and is often used with the preposition "a" when referring to people. For example, "Me faltó el dinero" means "I lacked the money" or "The money was missing from me." When speaking about people, one might say "Faltó a la cita" meaning "He/She missed the appointment."

The verb also functions in impersonal constructions where it expresses general needs or absences without specifying who exactly lacks something. An example would be "Falta una hora para terminar" which translates to "One hour is missing to finish" or more naturally "It's one hour until finished."

Regional variations exist in how faltó is employed across Spanish-speaking countries. Some regions may prefer alternative verbs like "hacer falta" or use different syntactic structures. In certain contexts, particularly in colloquial speech, faltó can carry additional connotations related to betrayal or failing to meet expectations.

Grammatically, faltó is the first-person singular preterite form of the verb faltar. Its complete conjugation includes various tenses and moods, making it a versatile component of Spanish verbal expression. The verb frequently appears in compound tenses and subjunctive mood constructions.

In literature and formal writing, faltó often appears in metaphorical contexts, describing moral deficiencies or abstract concepts that are absent from situations or characters.