caer ben

Galician

Etymology

Attested since circa 1750. From caer (“to fall”) + ben (“well”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [kɑˈer ˈβɛŋ]

Verb

caer ben (first-person singular present caio ben, first-person singular preterite caín ben, past participle caído ben)

1. (idiomatic) to sit well
   • 1750, anonymous author, Galanteo de mozo e moza:

     Agora si, que cai ben
     aquel conto do Boy manso,
     que nunha corrida de Touros,
     se ò pican, â ollos cerrados
     â hùs lles fura os calzòs,
     outros os pincha rodando,
     este quero, aquel non quero,
     esparcendolle os fargallos,
     hasta que queda à Praza
     espoada âô seu mandado:

     Now it sits well
     that tale of the docile ox,
     that in a bullfight,
     if they sting him, as with closed eyes,
     he bores the pants of some,
     others he takes down rolling,
     this one I want, that I don't,
     scattering their rags,
     till the plaza is left
     sieved [dusted?] at his command

2. (idiomatic) to suit, fit

   Synonym: acaer

   Ese vestido cáeche ben ― That dress suits you

References

• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, editor (2006–2013), “caer”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega [Dictionary of Dictionaries of the Galician language] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, editors (2003–2018), “caer ben”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Rosario Álvarez Blanco, editor (2014–2024), “caer”, in Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega, →ISSN