ya que
Lemma Details
Translation: since; because; as; given that; seeing that
Part of Speech: conjunction
Etymology: This conjunction is formed by combining 'ya' (already, now) and 'que' (that). 'Ya' comes from Latin 'iam' meaning 'now, already' while 'que' derives from Latin 'quod' meaning 'that, because'. The combination creates a causal conjunction that introduces a reason or justification.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 40%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'ya' as 'already' and 'que' as 'that' - together they mean 'already that' which evolved to mean 'since' or 'because'.
- Associate 'ya que' with the English phrase 'you know that' which has a similar sound and also introduces an explanation.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This conjunction is widely used in both formal and informal Spanish across all Spanish-speaking countries. It's one of the primary ways to express causality in Spanish.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While both express causality, 'ya que' is slightly more formal and often introduces information that is already known or established, whereas 'porque' simply states a direct cause.
Notes: 'Ya que' can sometimes be placed at the beginning of a sentence more naturally than 'porque'.
Mnemonic: 'Ya que' often implies 'given that this is already known' while 'porque' is more straightforward 'for this reason'.
Explanation: 'Ya que' introduces a reason or cause, while 'aunque' introduces a contrast or concession (meaning 'although' or 'even though').
Notes: These conjunctions often introduce opposite logical relationships.
Mnemonic: 'Ya que' explains why something happened; 'aunque' explains what happened despite a reason not to.