razón
“razón” means “right” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
right

📝 In Action
Creo que tienes razón, esta es la mejor opción.
A2I think you're right, this is the best option.
Al final, mi madre siempre tiene la razón.
B1In the end, my mother is always right.
No estoy de acuerdo, creo que no llevas razón en esto.
B1I don't agree, I think you're not right about this.
reason
Also: cause, motive
📝 In Action
¿Cuál es la razón de tu visita?
A2What is the reason for your visit?
No entiendo la razón por la que te enojaste.
B1I don't understand the reason why you got angry.
Existen muchas razones para aprender español.
A2There are many reasons to learn Spanish.
reason
Also: logic, mind
📝 In Action
Los seres humanos tienen la capacidad de la razón.
B2Human beings have the capacity for reason.
Hay que usar la razón y no dejarse llevar por el pánico.
B2One must use reason and not be carried away by panic.
Con tanto sufrimiento, el pobre hombre perdió la razón.
C1With so much suffering, the poor man lost his mind.
rate
Also: ratio, proportion
📝 In Action
El interés se calcula a razón del cinco por ciento anual.
C1The interest is calculated at a rate of five percent per year.
Se repartió un caramelo por niño, a razón de uno para cada uno.
C1One candy was given out per child, at a rate of one for each.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: razón
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly says 'You are right'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'ratiōnem', which meant 'reckoning, calculation, method, or reason'. It's the same root that gives English words like 'ratio', 'rational', and 'ratify'.
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'tener razón' and 'ser correcto'?
Great question! You use 'tener razón' when talking about a person being right about an opinion or fact ('You are right, it is cold'). You use 'ser correcto' when talking about a thing being correct, like an answer on a test ('La respuesta es correcta'). So, a person 'tiene razón', and an answer 'es correcta'.
Why is 'razón' feminine? It doesn't end in -a.
You've noticed a common pattern! Many Spanish nouns that end in -ión, -ción, and -sión are feminine, like 'la canción' (the song), 'la televisión' (the television), and 'la razón'. This is a helpful rule to remember.



