culpar
“culpar” means “to blame” in Spanish (to assign fault or responsibility).
to blame, to accuseAlso: to hold responsible
📝 In Action
No puedes culpar al clima por tu mala actitud.
A2You can't blame the weather for your bad attitude.
Todos culparon al conductor del accidente.
B1Everyone blamed the driver for the accident.
La policía no pudo culpar a nadie con las pruebas que tenía.
B2The police couldn't accuse anyone with the evidence they had.
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: culpar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'culpar' to blame a person?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
📚 Etymology
Comes directly from the Latin word *culpa*, meaning 'fault' or 'blame.' The Spanish verb simply takes the root word for 'fault' and adds the common '-ar' verb ending.
First recorded: Medieval Spanish (around 13th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'culpar' always negative?
Yes, 'culpar' carries a negative connotation because it involves assigning a mistake or fault to someone. If you want a positive word, use 'felicitar' (to congratulate) or 'reconocer' (to recognize/praise).
What is the difference between 'culpar' and 'acusar'?
'Culpar' means to assign fault or responsibility for something that happened. 'Acusar' means to make a formal charge or statement that someone has committed a crime or done something wrong. They are often interchangeable, but 'acusar' is stronger and more formal.