provocar
/pro-bo-KAR/
to cause
Pushing the first domino is enough to cause a chain reaction.
provocar(verb)
to cause
?to make something happen
,to bring about
?to result in a situation
to trigger
?to start a reaction
📝 In Action
La lluvia fuerte puede provocar inundaciones.
B1Heavy rain can cause flooding.
Sus palabras provocaron una gran discusión.
B1His words triggered a big argument.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'C' to 'QU' Swap
When the letter 'c' is followed by an 'e', it changes to 'qu' to keep the hard 'K' sound. You'll see this in the 'yo' form of the past tense (provoqué) and all 'special wish' forms (provoque).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Not just for negative things
Mistake: "Only using provocar for bad situations like accidents."
Correction: You can use it for positive things too, like 'provocar una sonrisa' (to cause a smile).
⭐ Usage Tips
Linking Ideas
Use this word when you want to explain that one action directly led to another result.
A playful nudge can be used to provoke a reaction.
provocar(verb)
to provoke
?to deliberately annoy or challenge someone
to taunt
?to tease or egg someone on
📝 In Action
No le hagas caso, solo intenta provocarte.
B2Don't pay attention to him, he's just trying to provoke you.
⭐ Usage Tips
Intentionality
In this context, 'provocar' implies that the person is doing it on purpose to get a reaction.
Seeing a delicious treat can make you feel like eating it.
provocar(verb)
to feel like
?having a craving for food or an activity
to crave
?wanting something specific right now
📝 In Action
Me provoca un helado de chocolate.
C1I feel like a chocolate ice cream.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Me' Structure
In this meaning, it works like the word 'gustar'. You say 'Me provoca...' (It provokes me...) to say 'I feel like...'
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
present
imperfect
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: provocar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'provocar' to mean 'to cause'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'provocar' always a bad thing?
Not necessarily! While it often refers to causing problems or arguments, it can also be used for neutral or positive things, like 'provocar una reacción' (to cause a reaction) or 'provocar curiosidad' (to cause curiosity).
Can I use 'provocar' to say I'm hungry?
In countries like Colombia or Venezuela, yes! You can say 'Me provoca una pizza' to mean 'I'm craving a pizza.' In Spain, however, people would usually use 'Me apetece' instead.