Spanish Conversation · Level 3
87 words
Spanish word
culpa
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈkulpa/
Meaning
- feminine nounfault
Example
No es tu culpa.
It's not your fault.
More examples
No siempre es fácil admitir que se tiene la culpa.
It's not always easy to admit that one is to blame.
Core concept
Person with head bowed and others making accusing gestures.
Common phrases
tener la culpa
be to blame
Similar words
culpabilidad: Feeling of guilt or remorse about one's actions.
responsabilidad: Duty or obligation tied to a role, task, or charge.
error: A mistake or wrong judgment in action or thought.
falta: Absence or lack of something needed or expected.
Definition in Spanish
Atribución de responsabilidad a una persona por causar un daño, un error o una falta moral.
Word origin
The Spanish noun culpa derives from Latin culpa 'fault' and is cognate with culpare 'to blame', preserving in Romance Spanish the sense of assigning responsibility for wrongs or mistakes.
Usage tips
- Use culpa for personal or moral blame; for technical problems or machine failures, Spanish speakers typically use words like fallo or error.