die Ursache, -n
cause
Etwas, das einen bestimmten Zustand oder ein Ereignis auslöst.
Definition & meaning
Ursache means cause, reason, or source—the person, event, condition, or circumstance that makes something happen.
It is commonly used in two related ways:
-
The cause of an event or situation
- The cause of the accident was excessive speed.
- die Ursache des Unfalls — the cause of the accident
-
The underlying reason for a problem or condition
- Doctors are trying to find the cause of the illness.
- die Ursache einer Krankheit — the cause of an illness
The result produced by a cause is called the effect, die Wirkung , or the consequence, die Folge .
Grammar & Word origin
- Gender: feminine
- Singular: die Ursache
- Plural: die Ursachen
- Genitive singular: der Ursache
- Accusative singular: die Ursache
The word is composed of:
Thus, Ursache originally referred to the fundamental matter behind something.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
- der Grund — reason or cause; broader and often more general than Ursache
- der Anlass — occasion or triggering reason, especially for an action or event
- der Auslöser — immediate trigger that sets something off
- das Motiv — motive, especially the reason behind a person’s intentional action
- der Beweggrund — personal or psychological motive
Antonyms
There is no exact universal antonym. Depending on the context, common opposites include:
- die Wirkung — effect or impact produced by a cause
- die Folge — consequence or result
- das Ergebnis — outcome or result
Common phrases & collocations
- die Ursache finden — to find the cause
- die Ursache herausfinden — to determine the cause
- die Ursache erklären — to explain the cause
- die Ursache für etwas sein — to be the cause of something
- eine Ursache haben — to have a cause
- die eigentliche Ursache — the actual or underlying cause
- die Hauptursache — the main cause
- die Ursache-Wirkungs-Beziehung — cause-and-effect relationship
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Examples
Für jede Wirkung gibt es eine Ursache.noun
For every effect there is a cause.
Eine Grippe ist oft die Ursache für Fieber.noun
The flu is often the cause of fever.
Eine sorgfältige Analyse führt zur Ursache des Problems.noun
A careful analysis leads to the cause of the problem.
Rauchen kann die Ursache für viele Krankheiten sein.noun
Smoking can be the cause of many diseases.
Die Ursache des Problems wird noch untersucht.noun
The cause of the problem is still being investigated.
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