How to Say "causes" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “causes” is “razones” — use 'razones' when referring to the underlying factors or justifications that explain why something happened or why a decision was made..
razones
rah-SOH-nays/raˈθo.nes/
Examples
¿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.
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).
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.')
causas
/KOW-sahs//ˈkausas/
Examples
Estamos investigando las causas del accidente.
We are investigating the causes of the accident.
Ella defiende muchas causas sociales.
She defends many social causes.
El abogado tiene varias causas pendientes.
The lawyer has several legal cases pending.
Making it Plural
To talk about more than one 'causa', just add an 's' to the end.
motivos
moh-TEE-bohs/moˈtiβos/
Examples
Tengo muchos motivos para estar feliz hoy.
I have many reasons to be happy today.
¿Cuáles fueron los motivos de su renuncia?
What were the reasons for his resignation?
No hay motivos para preocuparse; todo está bajo control.
There are no grounds for worry; everything is under control.
Always Plural
Since 'motivos' is the plural form of the noun 'motivo,' remember that any adjectives describing it must also be plural and masculine (e.g., 'buenos motivos').
Using 'for'
When you want to say 'for reasons' or 'because of reasons,' you usually use the preposition 'por' in Spanish: 'por motivos de seguridad' (for security reasons).
Confusing 'Motivo' and 'Motivos'
Mistake: “Using 'motivos' when you mean a single reason: 'Solo tengo un motivos.'”
Correction: Use the singular 'motivo': 'Solo tengo un motivo.' (I only have one reason.)
provoca
/pro-BOH-kah//pɾoˈβoka/
Examples
El exceso de sal provoca sed.
Too much salt causes thirst.
Su actitud provoca muchos problemas en la oficina.
His attitude causes a lot of problems in the office.
Which 'Provoca' is it?
This word has two main jobs: it can mean 'he, she, or it causes,' or it can be a command telling someone 'Provoke!' or 'Cause!'
Don't only think 'Anger'
Mistake: “Using 'provoca' only when someone is being annoying.”
Correction: In Spanish, 'provoca' is much more common for simply saying something 'results in' or 'causes' something else, like a medicine causing sleepiness.
deja
/DEH-hah//ˈde.xa/
Examples
Mi jefe no me deja salir temprano.
My boss doesn't let me leave early.
La lluvia no deja que los niños jueguen afuera.
The rain doesn't let the children play outside.
Esta película siempre me deja pensando.
This movie always leaves me thinking.
How to Say 'Let Someone Do Something'
To talk about letting someone do an action, you'll often see this pattern: deja + que + a person + a verb in a special form. For example, 'Ella deja que su hijo coma postre' (She lets her son eat dessert).
A Simpler Pattern
When the person being 'let' is the object, you can use a simpler structure: deja + the basic form of the second verb. For instance, 'Él me deja usar su coche' (He lets me use his car).
trae
/tra-eh//ˈtɾa.e/
Examples
La nueva ley trae cambios importantes para la economía.
The new law brings/causes important changes for the economy.
El estrés trae muchos problemas de salud.
Stress causes many health problems.
Esta situación trae consigo nuevas oportunidades.
This situation brings with it new opportunities.
conduce
kon-DOO-seh/konˈduθe/
Examples
El camino principal conduce directamente al centro de la ciudad.
The main road leads directly to the city center.
La falta de planificación conduce a errores graves.
The lack of planning leads to serious mistakes.
Esta investigación conduce a nuevas preguntas.
This investigation leads to new questions.
Requires 'a'
When 'conduce' means 'leads to,' it must be followed by the preposition 'a' (to/at): 'conduce a la solución'.
produce
/pro-DUE-say//pɾoˈðuθe/
Examples
El anuncio produce controversia entre los espectadores.
The advertisement causes controversy among viewers.
Su discurso siempre produce un efecto positivo en la audiencia.
His speech always generates a positive effect on the audience.
La noticia produce mucha tristeza en la comunidad.
The news causes a lot of sadness in the community.
Causation vs. Creation
When 'produce' is followed by an abstract noun (like alegría or miedo), it means 'to cause' or 'to generate' that feeling or consequence, not physically manufacture it.
motores
moh-TOH-rehs/moˈtoɾes/
Examples
Los motores de la protesta social son la desigualdad y la pobreza.
The driving forces behind the social protest are inequality and poverty.
La innovación y la tecnología son los motores del crecimiento económico.
Innovation and technology are the drivers of economic growth.
Figurative Use
In this context, 'motores' is a metaphor, treating an abstract idea (like innovation or passion) as the powerful device that makes things happen.
Nouns vs. Verbs for 'Causes'
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.