falloir

Meaning

1. to need, have to, to be necessary (that)
2. to take (time)
3. to be missing

Pronounced as (IPA)

/fa.lwaʁ/

Etymology

Inherited from Old French faloir, from an earlier falleir, from a changing of Old French faillir after its third person singular, faut, earlier falt (from Latin fallit), based off the model of valoir. Faillir derives in turn from Vulgar Latin *fallīre, from Latin fallere, fallō. Compare Franco-Provençal falêr from a similar development in Old Franco-Provençal.