Inklingo

How to Say "therefore" in Spanish

English → Spanish

entonces

/en-TON-ses//enˈton.ses/

ConnectorA2more formal
Use 'entonces' when introducing a direct and often more immediate consequence or conclusion, common in everyday conversation.
A set of dominoes where the first one has fallen and is about to hit the next one, showing a chain reaction.

Examples

Está lloviendo, entonces no vamos al parque.

It's raining, so we're not going to the park.

Si no estudiaste, entonces no vas a aprobar el examen.

If you didn't study, then you're not going to pass the exam.

Pienso, entonces existo.

I think, therefore I am.

Connecting Cause and Effect

Use this 'entonces' to link a reason or situation to what happens because of it. It answers the question '...so what?'

Not always the same as 'luego'

Mistake: “'Comí, luego salí.' (Sequence)”

Correction: 'Luego' often means 'after that' in a sequence of events. 'Entonces' is better for a logical result: 'Tenía hambre, entonces comí.' (I was hungry, *so* I ate). They can sometimes overlap, but thinking of 'entonces' as 'so' helps avoid confusion.

así que

/ah-see//aˈsi/

ConjunctionB1More formally showing a result
Use 'así que' to indicate a logical result or consequence, often used when stating a reason for a subsequent action or situation.
A two-panel illustration showing cause and effect: the left panel shows heavy rain, and the right panel shows a disappointed child looking out a window.

Examples

Está lloviendo, así que no podemos ir al parque.

It's raining, so we can't go to the park.

Está lloviendo, asi que no podemos ir al parque.

It's raining, so we can't go to the park.

No he dormido bien, asi que estoy muy cansado.

I haven't slept well, so I'm very tired.

El vuelo fue cancelado, asi que tendremos que buscar un hotel.

The flight was canceled, therefore we'll have to look for a hotel.

luego

/lwe-go//ˈlwe.ɣo/

ConjunctionB1A more formal way to show a result
Choose 'luego' for a more formal or philosophical connection, often used to link a premise to its deduced conclusion, as in famous philosophical statements.
A person sees dark rain clouds in the sky and, as a result, opens an umbrella, demonstrating the concept of 'so' or 'therefore'.

Examples

Pienso, luego existo.

I think, therefore I am.

No has estudiado nada, luego no te sorprendas si suspendes.

You haven't studied at all, so don't be surprised if you fail.

El equipo jugó muy mal, luego perdió el partido.

The team played very poorly, therefore they lost the game.

Connecting Cause and Effect

Think of this 'luego' as a bridge between a reason and a result. It tells your listener, 'Because of the first thing I said, this second thing is true.'

Sounding Too Formal

Mistake: “Using this 'luego' in casual chat can sometimes sound a bit stiff or academic. For everyday conversation, 'así que' is often a more natural choice for 'so'.”

Correction: For a text message: 'Está lloviendo, así que voy a llevar paraguas.' For a formal essay: 'Las precipitaciones han aumentado, luego es prudente llevar paraguas.'

Choosing Between 'entonces' and 'así que'

Learners often confuse 'entonces' and 'así que'. While both show consequence, 'entonces' is generally more common in spoken Spanish for immediate results, whereas 'así que' often feels slightly more deliberate or formal in its connection of cause and effect.

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