origen
“origen” means “origin” in Spanish (The point where something begins).
origin, source
Also: beginning, background
📝 In Action
Necesito saber el origen de este problema.
A2I need to know the source of this problem.
Mi país de origen es México, pero vivo en Canadá.
A2My country of origin is Mexico, but I live in Canada.
El origen de la palabra 'chocolate' es náhuatl.
B1The origin of the word 'chocolate' is Nahuatl.
La investigación busca el origen genético de la enfermedad.
C1The investigation seeks the genetic source of the illness.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: origen
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'origen'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word *orīgo*, meaning 'beginning, source, birth.' It has kept its meaning very consistently over the centuries.
First recorded: Around the 13th century in Spanish.
Cognates (Related words)
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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').