Inklingo

How to Say "due to" in Spanish

English → Spanish

por

/por//poɾ/

PrepositionA1general
Use 'por' when indicating a cause or reason in a general, everyday context, often following a noun or verb that implies causation.
A person holding an umbrella in the rain, illustrating 'por' used to show the reason for something.

Examples

No fui a la fiesta por la lluvia.

I didn't go to the party due to the rain.

Gracias por el regalo.

Thank you for the gift.

No salimos por el frío.

We didn't go out because of the cold.

Lo hice por ti.

I did it for you (on your behalf/because of you).

Explaining 'Why'

Use 'por' to answer the question '¿Por qué?' (Why?). It points back to the reason or motivation behind an action.

Confusing with 'Para'

Mistake: “When thanking someone, learners sometimes say: 'Gracias para tu ayuda.'”

Correction: The correct way is: 'Gracias por tu ayuda.' Think of it as giving thanks *because of* the help you received. The reason for the thanks is the help, so you use 'por'.

debido

/deh-BEE-doh//deˈβi.ðo/

ConnectorA2general
Use 'debido a' when directly connecting an event or situation to its cause, functioning similarly to 'because of' or 'owing to'.
A large, colorful watering can pouring water directly onto a small, bright green plant, illustrating cause and effect.

Examples

La tienda está cerrada debido a la festividad.

The store is closed due to the holiday.

No pudimos salir debido al mal tiempo.

We couldn't go out because of the bad weather.

Llegó tarde debido a que el tren se retrasó.

He arrived late because the train was delayed.

Always Appears as 'debido a'

When used to mean 'due to', this word is almost always part of the two-word phrase 'debido a'. Think of them as a single unit that introduces a reason.

What Comes After 'debido a'

You can follow 'debido a' with a thing (a noun) like 'la lluvia' (the rain), or you can add 'que' to follow it with a full idea: 'debido a que llovía' (due to the fact that it was raining).

Forgetting the 'a'

Mistake: “La calle está mojada debido la lluvia.”

Correction: La calle está mojada debido a la lluvia. You almost always need the 'a' after 'debido' when giving a reason.

dada

DAH-dah/ˈda.ða/

ConjunctionB1formal
Use 'dada' (or 'dado'/'dados'/'dadas' depending on gender/number agreement) at the beginning of a clause to introduce a formal reason or circumstance that leads to a consequence.
A thoughtful person standing next to a large, prominent red button, contemplating whether to press it, illustrating the concept of considering a circumstance.

Examples

Dada la situación económica, tendremos que reducir gastos.

Given the economic situation, we will have to reduce expenses.

Dada la urgencia, firmamos el contrato inmediatamente.

Considering the urgency, we signed the contract immediately.

Always Feminine Singular

Even though this phrase acts like 'given that,' it is grammatically the feminine singular form of the past participle of 'dar' (to give), and it must precede a feminine singular noun (like situación or circunstancia).

Using the wrong form with plural nouns

Mistake: “Dada las pruebas...”

Correction: Use the plural form: 'Dadas las pruebas...' (Given the evidence...). Always match the noun that follows.

Choosing between 'por' and 'debido a'

Learners often confuse 'por' and 'debido a'. Remember that 'debido a' is a set phrase directly linking a cause to an effect, while 'por' is a more versatile preposition used for a wider range of causal relationships.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.