causa
“causa” means “cause” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
cause
Also: reason, origin
📝 In Action
La lluvia fue la causa del accidente.
A2The rain was the cause of the accident.
No conocemos la causa principal del problema.
B1We don't know the main cause of the problem.
cause
Also: goal, mission
📝 In Action
Luchamos por una buena causa.
B1We are fighting for a good cause.
La protección del medio ambiente es su causa.
B2Protecting the environment is her cause.
case
Also: lawsuit, trial
📝 In Action
El abogado presentó la causa ante el juez.
B2The lawyer presented the case before the judge.
Ganaron la causa después de muchos años.
C1They won the lawsuit after many years.
he/she/it causes
Also: you cause, cause!
📝 In Action
El humo causa problemas respiratorios.
A2The smoke causes respiratory problems.
Usted siempre causa una buena impresión.
B1You (formal) always make a good impression.
¡Causa una buena impresión en la entrevista!
B1Make a good impression at the interview!
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: causa
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'causa' to mean a social movement or ideal?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word 'causa', which meant 'a cause, a reason, a pretext, or a lawsuit'. Spanish kept all of these meanings, which is why the word is so versatile today.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'a causa de' and 'porque'?
Great question! They both mean 'because'. Use 'a causa de' before a noun (a thing): 'Llegué tarde a causa del tráfico' (I arrived late because of the traffic). Use 'porque' before a conjugated verb (an action): 'Llegué tarde porque había mucho tráfico' (I arrived late because there was a lot of traffic).
Is 'causa' always a feminine noun?
Yes, when 'causa' is used as a noun (a reason, a case, an ideal), it is always feminine: 'la causa', 'una causa'. This is true even in the Peruvian slang for a male friend ('mi causa').