ca
“ca” means “because” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
because
Also: for
📝 In Action
No quiso venir, ca estaba muy cansado.
B2He didn't want to come, because he was very tired.
Digo la verdad, ca no sé mentir.
C1I tell the truth, for I do not know how to lie.
Alégrate, ca ya vienen tus amigos.
C1Be happy, since your friends are coming now.
no way
Also: of course not, nonsense
📝 In Action
—¿Crees que ha terminado? —¡Qué ca!
B2—Do you think he's finished? —No way!
—¿Te molestó lo que dije? —¡Ca! No te preocupes.
B2—Did what I said bother you? —Not at all! Don't worry about it.
—¿Va a ganar ese equipo? —¡Ca! Son malísimos.
B2—Is that team going to win? —Nonsense! They are terrible.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ca
Question 1 of 3
If someone says '¡Qué ca!' after you ask if they are tired, what do they mean?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'quia', which meant 'because'. Over centuries, it was shortened to just 'ca' in Spanish.
First recorded: 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'ca' a typo for 'casa'?
Sometimes! In informal writing or transcriptions of rural speech, you might see 'ca' Juan' (at Juan's house). That is a contraction of 'casa de'. However, the standalone word 'ca' is its own word meaning 'because' or 'no way'.
Should I use 'ca' in my Spanish homework?
Unless you are writing a poem or a story set in the 1800s, it's better to use 'porque'. Using 'ca' will likely confuse your teacher or classmates!
Is 'ca' used in Latin America?
It is much more common to find it in literature from Spain. In Latin America, you are much more likely to hear '¡Qué va!' or '¡Para nada!' for denial.