A close-up view of a small brown seed partially buried in dark soil, with a bright green shoot just beginning to emerge from the top of the seed.

origen

oh-REE-hen

nounmA2

origin?The point where something begins,source?Where something comes from, often used figuratively

Also:beginning?The starting point of an event or story,background?Referring to someone's family or history

📝 In Action

Necesito saber el origen de este problema.

I need to know the source of this problem.

Mi país de origen es México, pero vivo en Canadá.

My country of origin is Mexico, but I live in Canada.

El origen de la palabra 'chocolate' es náhuatl.

The origin of the word 'chocolate' is Nahuatl.

La investigación busca el origen genético de la enfermedad.

The investigation seeks the genetic source of the illness.

Word Connections

Synonyms

principio (beginning)
fuente (source, fountain)
procedencia (provenance, derivation)

Antonyms

fin (end)
destino (destination)

Common Collocations

país de origen – country of origin (homeland)
punto de origen – starting point
tener su origen en – to have its origin in / to stem from

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Noun

Even though 'origen' ends in '-en', it is always a masculine noun. You must use 'el origen' (the origin), never 'la origen'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the wrong preposition

Mistake: "El problema es *de* origen."

Correction: El problema *tiene* origen *en*... (The problem originates in...). When linking the source, use 'en' or 'de' for description: 'algo de origen desconocido'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Referring to People

When talking about someone's personal background or heritage, 'origen' is perfect: 'Ella es de origen humilde' (She is of humble background).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: origen

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'origen'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

original(original (adjective)) - adjective

originar(to originate, to cause) - verb

originario(native, originating from) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'origen' masculine or feminine?

'Origen' is always masculine. You must use the masculine article 'el' (el origen) and any accompanying adjectives must also be masculine.

How is 'origen' different from 'principio'?

Both mean 'beginning,' but 'origen' usually refers to the root cause, source, or background (e.g., 'the origin of the species'). 'Principio' often refers to the first moment in time (e.g., 'at the beginning of the month') or foundational rules (e.g., 'principles').