provocado
/pro-bo-KAH-do/
caused
The falling dominoes show a result that was 'provocado' (caused) by the first push.
provocado(adjective)
caused
?as a result of an action
,deliberate
?started on purpose, like a fire
incited
?prompting a reaction from someone
📝 In Action
El incendio forestal fue provocado.
B1The forest fire was caused on purpose (arson).
Fue un accidente provocado por la lluvia.
A2It was an accident caused by the rain.
💡 Grammar Points
Describing Things
As a describing word, 'provocado' must match what it describes. Use 'provocado' for masculine things (el error) and 'provocada' for feminine things (la crisis).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Not just for anger
Mistake: "Using 'provocado' only when someone is angry."
Correction: In Spanish, it's very common to use it for any result, like 'daño provocado' (damage caused), even without emotion.
⭐ Usage Tips
Natural Sounding
When you want to say something was 'on purpose' in a formal way, 'fue provocado' is the perfect choice.
The growth of the plant was 'provocado' (caused) by the act of watering the seed.
provocado(verb)
caused
?having brought about a result
,provoked
?having annoyed or challenged someone
📝 In Action
Su comentario ha provocado mucha discusión.
B1His comment has caused a lot of discussion.
Tú lo habías provocado antes de la pelea.
B1You had provoked him before the fight.
💡 Grammar Points
Talking about the Past
Use 'provocado' after the verb 'haber' (like 'he', 'has', 'ha') to say you have 'caused' or 'provoked' something. In this case, 'provocado' never changes its ending.
Spelling Change
When conjugating the root verb, the 'c' changes to 'qu' (provoqué, provoque) to keep the hard 'K' sound before the letter 'e'.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: provocado
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence means 'The crisis was caused by the economy'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'provocado' always negative?
Not necessarily! While often used for accidents or fights, you can say 'su éxito fue provocado por su esfuerzo' (his success was caused by his effort).
What's the difference between 'causado' and 'provocado'?
They are very similar, but 'provocado' often suggests a more direct trigger or even an intentional act, while 'causado' is more general.