caí
/kai/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I fell for it" is translated into Spanish as caí.
The phrase is used when someone is deceived by a trick or a lie. In informal settings, you might also hear the expression Tragarse el anzuelo, which literally means "Swallow the hook".
How do you pronounce it?
/kai/
Did you know?
- If you want to sound more dramatic, you can say Me la comí, which literally translates to 'I ate it'. This is a common way in many Spanish-speaking countries to say you were fooled by a joke or a prank.
- While caí is used for being tricked, the verb caer is also used in the phrase caer bien, which means to like someone's personality. If someone 'falls' for you in this sense, they find you pleasant rather than being deceived.
- The verb caer is used to describe the arrival of a person or a visit, such as saying caer por casa to mean 'dropping by'.
Examples in context
- Yo caí por eso.I fell for it.This sentence demonstrates how to use caí.Tatoeba #4592732 by Francisco_M, translation #2326201 by CK
- No puedo creer que haya caído en la trampa de esa estafa telefónica.I can't believe I fell into the trap of that phone scam.
- Me dijeron que había ganado un premio y terminé picando el anzuelo.They told me I had won a prize, and I ended up biting the hook.
- Me dijeron que había un billete de 100 dólares en la calle y caí como un pato. Era solo una broma.They told me there was a $100 bill on the street, and I fell for it like a duck. It was just a prank.
- Mis amigos me engañaron para que me comiera el pastel entero. ¡Me tragué el anzuelo completamente!My friends tricked me into eating the entire cake. I completely swallowed the hook!
- No lo sabía, caí en la trampa.I didn't know, I fell for the trap.
- Era una broma y caí.It was a joke and I fell for it.
Example conversation
Mateo and Maria are talking about a prank.
- MateoMe dijeron que había pizza gratis.They told me there was free pizza.
- María¡Era una broma, Mateo!It was a joke, Mateo!
- MateoLo sé, caí totalmente.I know, I totally fell for it.
- MaríaNo te sientas mal.Don't feel bad.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
