provocar
cause
Hacer que algo ocurra o que una persona reaccione de cierta manera.
Provocar is a Spanish verb that means "to provoke" or "to cause" something, usually a reaction or an effect.
Meaning:
-
To provoke: To deliberately cause a reaction, often emotional or physical, such as anger, irritation, or excitement.
- Example: No quería provocar una pelea. (I didn't want to provoke a fight.)
-
To cause or to bring about: To make something happen, often related to an event, circumstance, or consequence.
- Example: La tormenta provocó muchos daños. (The storm caused a lot of damage.)
Parts of the word:
- Pro-: a prefix meaning "forward" or "forth."
- Voc-: comes from the Latin root related to "voice" or "call."
- The suffix -ar indicates that it is a verb in Spanish.
This connects metaphorically to "calling forth" a reaction.
Synonyms:
- Causar (to cause)
- Desencadenar (to trigger)
- Incitar (to incite)
- Estimular (to stimulate)
- Molestar (to annoy, in some contexts)
Antonyms:
- Calmar (to calm)
- Apaciguar (to appease)
- Evitar (to avoid)
- Detener (to stop)
Summary:
Provocar involves triggering or causing a response or event, often used with emotions, reactions, or physical consequences.
Make “provocar” part of your vocabulary.
Build your Spanish vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.
Examples
La fuerte lluvia provocó inundaciones en la ciudad.verb
The heavy rain caused flooding in the city.
El incendio puede provocar grandes daños en el bosque.verb
The fire can cause great damage in the forest.
El viento fuerte puede provocar daños en las casas.verb
The strong wind can cause damage to the houses.
¿Sabes qué factores pueden provocar cambios en el clima?verb
Do you know what factors can cause changes in the climate?
Keep exploring Spanish
Learn words from the content you love.
Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).
Scan for iPhone & iPad