Spanish Phrase
¿Qué equipo hace falta?
Meaning
This phrase literally translates to "What equipment makes lack?" but idiomatically means "What equipment is needed?" or "What equipment is missing?". The verb phrase "hacer falta" is a common way to express necessity or absence in Spanish, often used impersonally or with an indirect object.
When to use
You can use this phrase when preparing for an activity, checking inventory, or planning a project. It's suitable for asking about tools, supplies, or even personnel (if 'equipo' refers to a team) that are required or currently unavailable.
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿Quéequipohacefalta?
Qué (What)
"Qué" is an interrogative pronoun meaning "what". It's used to ask for information about something, often followed by a noun or a verb.
Equipo (Equipment/Team)
"Equipo" is a masculine noun that can mean "equipment," "gear," or "team." Its meaning depends on the context. In this phrase, it refers to necessary items.
Hacer falta (To be needed/missing)
This is an impersonal verb phrase meaning "to be needed" or "to be missing." It functions similarly to "gustar," where the thing that is needed or missing is the subject, and the verb is conjugated in the third person singular or plural. Here, "equipo" is singular, so "hace" (third person singular of "hacer") is used.
🗨In Conversation
Vamos a montar la tienda de campaña. ¿Qué equipo hace falta?
We're going to set up the tent. What equipment is needed?
Necesitamos las varillas, las estacas y un martillo.
We need the poles, the stakes, and a hammer.
✕Common Mistakes
¿Qué equipo es necesario?
While grammatically correct, "es necesario" is more formal and less idiomatic than "hace falta" for expressing what is needed or missing in a practical sense.
¿Qué equipaje hace falta?
"Equipo" refers to equipment or a team, while "equipaje" specifically means luggage. Using "equipaje" here would imply asking what luggage is missing, which is a different context.
¿Qué equipo falta?
While "¿Qué falta?" (What is missing?) is correct, adding "equipo" directly before "falta" without "hace" changes the structure and is less common for asking what equipment is needed. "Hacer falta" is the idiomatic construction.
↔Alternatives
¿Qué necesitamos?
What do we need?
¿Qué es necesario?
What is necessary?
¿Qué nos falta?
What are we missing?
Cultural Tip
The phrase "hacer falta" is incredibly versatile in Spanish. Beyond just equipment, it can express missing a person ("Me haces falta" - I miss you) or needing something abstract ("Me hace falta un descanso" - I need a break). Understanding its idiomatic use is key to sounding natural. It's commonly used in everyday conversations across most Spanish-speaking regions.