A simple storybook illustration of a small child sitting next to a large puddle of spilled milk and a tipped-over glass, looking distressed, symbolizing fault.

culpa

/kool-pah/

NounfA2

fault?responsibility for a mistake,blame?assigning responsibility

Also:guilt?the feeling of being responsible

📝 In Action

No fue mi culpa, el vaso se cayó.

It wasn't my fault, the glass fell.

El conductor tuvo la culpa del accidente.

The driver was to blame for the accident.

Ella siente mucha culpa por lo que dijo.

She feels a lot of guilt for what she said.

Es fácil echar la culpa a los demás.

It's easy to blame others.

Word Connections

Synonyms

responsabilidad (responsibility)
error (error)

Antonyms

inocencia (innocence)

Common Collocations

tener la culpa – to be at fault / to be to blame
echar la culpa – to blame someone
sentimiento de culpa – feeling of guilt
por culpa de – because of / due to (something negative)
culpa mía – my fault / my bad

Idioms & Expressions

mea culpa – An admission of one's own fault, a formal acknowledgment of error.

💡 Grammar Points

Using 'Tener la culpa'

To say someone is at fault, you use the verb 'tener' (to have). Think of it like 'having the blame': 'Yo tengo la culpa' means 'It's my fault.'

'Por culpa de' for Negative Reasons

Use the phrase 'por culpa de' to explain the negative reason for something. It's the opposite of 'gracias a' (thanks to), which is only used for positive reasons.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'Ser' instead of 'Tener'

Mistake: "A common mix-up is saying 'Es mi culpa'. While sometimes heard, it's much more standard to say 'Tengo la culpa'."

Correction: Always try to use 'tener la culpa' to say someone is at fault. For example, 'Él tiene la culpa' (He is to blame).

Confusing 'por culpa de' and 'gracias a'

Mistake: "Using 'gracias a' for something negative, like 'Gracias a la lluvia, llegué tarde'."

Correction: Use 'por culpa de' for negative outcomes: 'Por culpa de la lluvia, llegué tarde.' (Because of the rain, I was late). Reserve 'gracias a' for positive things: 'Gracias a tu ayuda, terminé.' (Thanks to your help, I finished).

⭐ Usage Tips

A Quick Way to Say 'My Bad'

A very common and natural way to admit fault for small things is to simply say '¡Culpa mía!' which is just like saying 'My fault!' or 'My bad!'

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: culpa

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly means 'The traffic is to blame for my delay'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

culpable(guilty, culpable) - adjective

culpar(to blame) - verb

disculpar(to excuse, to forgive) - verb

inculpar(to incriminate, to accuse) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'culpa' and 'culpabilidad'?

'Culpa' is the more common, everyday word for fault or blame. 'Culpabilidad' is a bit more formal and often refers to the legal state of being guilty ('guiltiness') or the deep psychological feeling of guilt.

Can I say 'Es mi culpa'?

You will hear native speakers say 'es mi culpa,' but it's much more standard and grammatically common to say 'tengo la culpa' or just 'culpa mía.' It's best to stick with 'tener la culpa' as you're learning.