cuánto falta
/kwanto falta/from spelling rules
The English phrase "how much farther" is translated into Spanish as cuánto falta.
You use cuánto falta to ask about the amount of distance or time remaining before reaching a destination. This phrase can be used to ask about both distance and time remaining until an arrival.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of cuánto (how much) and falta (is lacking/is missing).
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb faltar is used in the third-person singular to indicate the amount of distance or time remaining.
Did you know?
- The word falta shares the same root as the English word 'fault'. Both derive from the Latin fallere, meaning 'to deceive' or 'to fail'.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, a common playful response to a child asking cuánto falta during a long trip is ya casi llegamos, meaning 'we are almost there', even if the destination is still far away.
- While cuánto falta asks about distance or time, the verb faltar is also used to describe a missing person or a missing ingredient in a recipe.
Examples in context
- Disculpe, ¿cuánto falta para llegar al museo?Excuse me, how much farther is it to the museum?
- Señor, ¿cuánto queda para llegar al aeropuerto?Sir, how much farther is it to the airport?
- Oye, ¿falta mucho para llegar a la playa?Hey, is it much farther to the beach?
- ¿Cuánto falta para llegar?How much farther to get there?
- Dime cuánto falta para el hotel.Tell me how much farther to the hotel.
- ¿Cuánto falta para la estación de tren?How much farther to the train station?
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are driving on a road trip.
- Mateo¿Cuánto falta para la meta?How much farther to the finish line?
- SofíaFaltan solo diez kilómetros, Mateo.There are only ten kilometers left, Mateo.
- Mateo¡Qué bueno! Estoy muy cansado.That's great! I am very tired.
- SofíaYa casi llegamos.We are almost there.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuánto, falta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
