When should you use por versus porque?

Use por (preposition) before a noun or pronoun: cancelaron el juego por la lluvia (they canceled the game because of the rain). Use porque (conjunction) before a clause with a verb: cancelaron el juego porque llovía (they canceled the game because it was raining). The choice depends on whether what follows is a noun phrase or a full sentence.

What is the difference between debido a and a causa de?

Debido a and a causa de both mean 'due to' or 'because of' and are largely interchangeable in formal writing. A subtle difference: a causa de tends to emphasize the cause itself, especially when that cause is negative (a causa de la crisis = because of the crisis). Debido a is more neutral and common in business, legal, and academic documents.

Can you start a sentence with por?

Starting a sentence with por to mean 'because of' is possible but uncommon: por la lluvia, se canceló el evento (because of the rain, the event was canceled). More natural sentence-initial alternatives are debido a la lluvia or a causa de la lluvia. In mid-sentence position, por flows effortlessly: se canceló el evento por la lluvia.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

BECAUSE OF in Spanish: POR

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Por · preposition · pohr

The prepositional phrase 'because of' most commonly translates to por in Spanish, one of the language's most versatile prepositions. For more formal or written contexts, debido a (due to) and a causa de (on account of) provide precise alternatives. Understanding when to use por versus porque (because + clause) is essential—por is followed by a noun, while porque introduces a full clause with a conjugated verb.

pohr

Cancelaron el vuelo por la tormenta de nieve.

They canceled the flight because of the snowstorm.

Because Of in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for because of, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
por	because of	pohr	Default, widely understood
debido a	because of		formal — due to
a causa de	because of		formal — on account of

How Native Speakers Use Por

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Explaining a cause

Llegué tarde por el tráfico en la autopista.

I arrived late because of the traffic on the highway.

Por + noun is the most concise way to state a cause.

Formal report

Debido a la falta de presupuesto, el proyecto fue suspendido.

Due to the lack of budget, the project was suspended.

Debido a is preferred in business and academic writing.

Citing a specific cause

A causa de la sequía, los agricultores perdieron sus cosechas.

Because of the drought, the farmers lost their crops.

A causa de adds weight and formality to the cause-effect relationship.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Por

Confusing por and porque

Incorrect: Llegué tarde porque el tráfico.

Correct: Llegué tarde por el tráfico.

Porque means 'because' and must be followed by a complete clause with a verb: llegué tarde porque había mucho tráfico (I arrived late because there was a lot of traffic). Por is a preposition followed directly by a noun: por el tráfico (because of the traffic).

Using por que (two words) instead of porque

Incorrect: No fui por que estaba enfermo.

Correct: No fui porque estaba enfermo.

Por que (two separate words) has specialized grammatical uses unrelated to causation. Porque (one word, no accent) means 'because.' The space between por and que changes the meaning entirely, and this is a frequent written error even among native speakers.

Lock in Because Of Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Por used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using por in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Cancelaron el vuelo por la tormenta de nieve. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About Because Of in Spanish

When should you use por versus porque?: Use por (preposition) before a noun or pronoun: cancelaron el juego por la lluvia (they canceled the game because of the rain). Use porque (conjunction) before a clause with a verb: cancelaron el juego porque llovía (they canceled the game because it was raining). The choice depends on whether what follows is a noun phrase or a full sentence.
What is the difference between debido a and a causa de?: Debido a and a causa de both mean 'due to' or 'because of' and are largely interchangeable in formal writing. A subtle difference: a causa de tends to emphasize the cause itself, especially when that cause is negative (a causa de la crisis = because of the crisis). Debido a is more neutral and common in business, legal, and academic documents.
Can you start a sentence with por?: Starting a sentence with por to mean 'because of' is possible but uncommon: por la lluvia, se canceló el evento (because of the rain, the event was canceled). More natural sentence-initial alternatives are debido a la lluvia or a causa de la lluvia. In mid-sentence position, por flows effortlessly: se canceló el evento por la lluvia.