Inklingo

How to Say "that's why" in Spanish

English → Spanish

así

adverbA2general
Use 'así' when you want to introduce a general consequence or result of something previously stated, functioning similarly to 'so' or 'therefore'.

Examples

No había suficiente comida, así que tuvimos que pedir más.

There wasn't enough food, so we had to order more.

precisamente

preh-see-sah-MEN-tay/pɾeθiˈsamente/

adverbC1general
Use 'precisamente' (often followed by 'por eso') to highlight a specific or exact reason for something, emphasizing that this particular cause is the key factor.
A child watering the ground, causing a large sunflower to immediately sprout and bloom.

Examples

Estaba muy cansado. Precisamente por eso, me fui a la cama temprano.

I was very tired. That's precisely why I went to bed early.

No quiso pedir ayuda. Precisamente por eso, su trabajo falló.

He didn't want to ask for help. For that very reason, his work failed.

Muchos creen que es un defecto, pero precisamente su inexperiencia es su mayor virtud.

Many believe it is a flaw, but as a matter of fact, his inexperience is his greatest virtue.

Causal Connector

When used in this sense, 'precisamente' acts as a strong link between a previous statement (the cause) and the current statement (the result or conclusion).

Overuse in Simple Sentences

Mistake: “Using 'precisamente' when 'sí' or 'claro' would suffice.”

Correction: 'Precisamente' carries a strong emphasis; save it for moments when you really need to stress the exactness or the core reason.

Choosing 'así' vs. 'precisamente'

Learners often overuse 'precisamente' for simple cause-and-effect. Remember that 'así' is the more common and versatile choice for general consequences, while 'precisamente' adds emphasis to a specific, exact reason.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.