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Spanish Word of the Day Archive
Tuesday January 8, 2008
motivo, noun:
reason; motive
Motivo is one of the many Spanish words which have one meaning like their English equivalent and another which is different. It’s a very common word for the reason for something.
Dejó el puesto por motivos personales.
She left her job for personal reasons.
No hay motivo para dudarlo.
There’s no reason to doubt it.
Se reía sin motivo aparente.
He would laugh for no obvious reason.
It’s widely used in the phrase con motivo de, meaning because of:
con motivo de la visita de dos amigas
because of a visit by two friends
The other meaning, motive, is used in a similar way to English.
¿Cuál fue el motivo del asesinato?
What was the motive for the murder?
un crimen sin motivo
a crime without a motive
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