Spanish word of the day: Causa

What does causa mean?

Causa (noun) — Meaning "cause" or "reason," referring to the source or origin of an effect, action, or condition. It can also denote a purpose, legal case, or social cause.

Example sentences with causa

• La causa del problema aún no ha sido identificada.
  😅 The cause of the problem has not yet been identified.

• Luchamos por una buena causa que beneficia a la comunidad.
  🤝 We fight for a good cause that benefits the community.

• A causa de la lluvia, el evento fue cancelado.
  🌧️ Due to the rain, the event was canceled.

Causa in context

You'll often encounter “causa” in phrases like "a causa de" (because of) when explaining why events occurred: "Llegamos tarde a causa del tráfico" (We arrived late because of the traffic). It's also useful when discussing motivations or purposes worth supporting: "Luchamos por una buena causa" (We fight for a good cause). However, be mindful that when expressing cause relationships in casual speech, Spaniards often prefer simpler constructions with "porque" or "por" rather than the more formal "a causa de".

For more positive outcomes, consider using "gracias a" (thanks to) instead of "causa," which carries a neutral tone. Conversely, if you want to assign blame, "por culpa de" works better as it implies fault or negative consequences. When writing formal documents or speaking in professional settings, "debido a" offers a more elevated alternative to "a causa de". Remember that "causa" can also appear in legal contexts referring to a case or lawsuit, so be aware of potential confusion in those environments.