causa
/ˈkausa/feminine
The Spanish word for cause is causa.
causa is used as a noun to refer to the source or reason of an event or action. You can also use the related verb causar to express the action of setting off an event or action.
Meaning: source or reason of an event or action (noun)
Which one should you use?
As a noun, causa means 'cause'. However, it can also function as the third-person singular present form of the verb causar, meaning 'he/she/it causes'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun causa is feminine. The form causar is the infinitive used to express the action of causing something.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkausa/
Did you know?
- In Peru, a causa is a popular cold appetizer made of mashed yellow potatoes, lime and chili peppers.
- In some Latin American slang, causa is used as a colloquial term for 'friend' or 'buddy', similar to 'pal' in English.
- The Spanish word cosa, meaning 'thing', is actually a linguistic 'doublet' of causa, having evolved from the same Latin root through different paths.
Examples in context
- No sé la causa.I don't know the cause.This sentence is useful for expressing that you do not know the cause.Tatoeba #5455490 by baudelaire, translation #5490607 by Mar1L
- No quiero causar pánico.I don't want to cause a panic.This sentence is useful for expressing that you do not want to cause a panic.Tatoeba #2781936 by marcelostockle, translation #2323291 by CK
- Él ha causado todo esto.He's the cause of all this.This sentence is useful for stating that someone is the cause of a situation.Tatoeba #4553959 by swyter, translation #4541463 by mailohilohi
- No pude asistir a tu fiesta porque estaba ocupadoI couldn't attend your party because I was busy
- Porque siempre hay una causa, pero rara vez una excusa.Because there is always a cause, but rarely an excuse.
- 83 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are discussing a technical error at work.
- Alejandro¿Sabes cuál es la causa del fallo?Do you know what the cause of the failure is?
- SofíaNo, la causa sigue siendo un misterio.No, the cause is still a mystery.
- AlejandroDebemos encontrar la causa rápidamente.We must find the cause quickly.
- SofíaSí, investigaré la causa ahora mismo.Yes, I will investigate the cause right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cause” translations and entries causa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries causa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
