Spanish vocabulary · Intermediate
How to Say Passed Away in Spanish: Falleció
Falleció · verb · fah-yeh-SYOH
Passed away in Spanish is falleció or fallecer, a respectful euphemism for dying, equivalent in tone to the English passed away.
Falleció is fah-yeh-SYOH, three syllables with stress on the last.
Mi abuela falleció en paz, rodeada de su familia.
My grandmother passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family.
Passed Away in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for passed away, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| falleció | passed away | fah-yeh-SYOH | Default, widely understood |
| murió | passed away | more direct, less euphemistic | |
| se fue | passed away | gentle euphemism |
How Native Speakers Use Falleció
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Announcing a death
Lamentamos informar que don Carlos falleció anoche.
We regret to inform that Mr. Carlos passed away last night.
Formal announcement.
Gentle expression
Su madre se fue mientras dormía, sin sufrir.
His mother passed away in her sleep, without suffering.
Euphemistic irse.
Conversational
¿Supiste que el profesor García murió la semana pasada?
Did you hear that Professor García passed away last week?
Less formal, using murió.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Falleció
Using pasar incorrectly
Incorrect: Mi tío pasó fuera.
Correct: Mi tío falleció.
Pasar fuera is not a natural Spanish euphemism; use fallecer or irse.
Wrong tense form
Incorrect: Ella fallecó ayer.
Correct: Ella falleció ayer.
The correct preterite form is falleció with accent on the ó.
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Common Questions About Passed Away in Spanish
- How do you say passed away in Spanish?
- The most respectful equivalent is falleció (past tense of fallecer), which carries the same gentle euphemistic tone as passed away in English.
- Is morir considered rude?
- Morir (to die) is not rude but is more direct—fallecer is preferred in formal announcements, condolences, and when speaking sensitively about recent deaths.
- What other euphemisms exist for dying in Spanish?
- Common euphemisms include se nos fue (left us), descansa en paz (rests in peace), nos dejó (left us), and partió de este mundo (departed this world).