originar
“originar” means “to cause” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to cause
Also: to give rise to, to create
📝 In Action
El fuerte viento puede originar incendios.
A2The strong wind can cause fires.
Su comportamiento originó muchos problemas en la oficina.
B1His behavior gave rise to many problems in the office.
Esta nueva ley originará cambios profundos en la sociedad.
B2This new law will create profound changes in society.
to originate
Also: to stem from
📝 In Action
El incendio se originó en la cocina.
A2The fire originated in the kitchen.
Muchos modismos se originaron en la calle.
B1Many idioms originated on the street.
Su miedo se origina en una mala experiencia pasada.
B2His fear stems from a bad past experience.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: originar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly says 'The problem started because of a mistake'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'originare', which means to give birth to or to begin, coming from 'origo' (source).
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'originar' common in daily conversation?
It is common, but 'causar' or 'empezar' are used more frequently in very casual speech. 'Originar' sounds a bit more precise and formal.
What's the difference between 'originar' and 'originarse'?
'Originar' is used when someone or something causes something else. 'Originarse' is used when describing where or how something began.
Is 'originar' a regular verb?
Yes! It follows the standard pattern for all -ar verbs in Spanish, which makes it very easy to conjugate.