cause

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/koz/cause / causer

nounfeminine

reason, origin, motive

On cherche encore la cause de l'accident.

They are still looking for the cause of the accident.

Synonyms:raison, origine, motif

nounfeminine

a social or political cause; a movement or campaign to defend an idea or group

Elle a consacré sa carrière à la cause des droits des femmes.

She devoted her career to the cause of women's rights.

Synonyms:mouvement, combat, cause sociale

verbInd1stPresSing1, 3

talk, chat

On cause de tout et de rien pendant des heures.

We chat about everything and nothing for hours.

Synonyms:parler, bavarder, papoter

Notes

GENERAL INFO

cause (feminine noun) means "cause," "reason," or "case" (in a legal sense).

USAGE

You'll often see it in phrases like "à cause de" (because of) or "la cause du problème" (the cause of the problem). It can also refer to a legal matter: "gagner sa cause" (to win one's case).

TRAPS

Be careful not to confuse "à cause de" (followed by a noun or pronoun) with "parce que" (followed by a full clause). "Causer" is the verb form meaning "to cause" or the informal synonym of "to speak/to chat".