A simple illustration showing a large blue sphere balanced stably atop three smaller, brightly colored rectangular blocks, symbolizing justifications supporting a conclusion.

razones

rah-SOH-nays

NounfA1

reasons?justifications or motivations,causes?underlying factors

Also:grounds?basis for an argument,arguments?points made in a debate

📝 In Action

¿Cuáles son tus razones para cambiar de trabajo?

What are your reasons for changing jobs?

Por razones de seguridad, la carretera está cerrada.

For safety reasons, the road is closed.

Ella me explicó sus razones, pero sigo sin entender.

She explained her reasons to me, but I still don't understand.

Word Connections

Synonyms

motivos (motives)
causas (causes)

Common Collocations

tener razones – to have reasons/to be right
por estas razones – for these reasons
dar razones – to give justifications

💡 Grammar Points

Feminine Plural

Remember that 'razones' is always used with feminine articles and adjectives because its singular form, 'la razón,' is feminine (even though it ends in 'n').

Why vs. Reason

While 'por qué' means 'why,' 'las razones' refers to the actual explanation or justification. You often use 'por' before 'razones': 'por razones de salud' (for health reasons).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the wrong preposition

Mistake: "Hice esto para razones personales."

Correction: Hice esto por razones personales. (Use 'por' to mean 'on account of' or 'due to.')

⭐ Usage Tips

Being Right

The phrase 'tener razón' (to have reason) means 'to be right' in Spanish. The plural form 'tienes tus razones' means 'you have your reasons' (implying they are justified).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: razones

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'razones' to mean 'causes'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

razón(reason, right (noun)) - noun

razonar(to reason, to think logically) - verb

razonable(reasonable) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'razones' ever used as a verb?

Yes, 'razones' is also a highly specific verb form (the 'tú' form of the present subjunctive of 'razonar,' meaning 'that you reason'). However, in nearly all common conversation, you will hear it used as the plural noun meaning 'reasons' or 'justifications.'

Why is 'razones' feminine if it refers to logic?

Grammatical gender in Spanish doesn't always reflect the meaning of the word. Since the singular root word 'razón' inherited its feminine gender from the Latin root *ratio*, its plural form 'razones' remains feminine.