alguien falleció
/alɡjen faʝeθjo/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'someone passed away' is translated into Spanish as alguien falleció.
This phrase is used as a polite way to state that someone has died.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The verb fallecer is a formal way to express death. It is suitable for use in news reports, obituaries or when you wish to show respect when expressing condolences.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, it is common to use the acronym QEPD (Que en paz descanse) when referring to someone who has passed away. In Argentina, common ways to express condolences are Mis condolencias and Mis sentidas condolencias.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form falleció is the third-person singular preterite (past tense) of the verb fallecer.
How do you pronounce it?
/alɡjen faʝeθjo/
Did you know?
- While fallecer is common in obituaries, Spanish speakers sometimes use estirar la pata (to stretch the leg) as a humorous or irreverent way to say someone died.
- While alguien falleció is formal, in many Spanish-speaking cultures, people prefer using the euphemism se nos fue (they left us) to soften the blow of the news.
- The word alguien is a linguistic hybrid that likely formed from the combination of the word alguno and the relative pronoun quien.
Examples in context
- Le acompaño en el sentimiento.I share your grief.
- Me enteré de que alguien falleció ayer.I heard that someone passed away yesterday.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a recent news report.
- Elena¿Supiste que alguien falleció en el hospital?Did you know that someone passed away in the hospital?
- JavierNo, no sabía que alguien falleció.No, I didn't know that someone passed away.
- ElenaFue una noticia muy triste para la ciudad.It was very sad news for the city.
- JavierEs verdad, Elena, es una tragedia.It is true, Elena, it is a tragedy.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
