The most common way to say "reason" in French is la raison. It's a word you'll hear and use constantly. But what if you want to talk about the cause of something, the motive behind an action, or the justification for a decision? French, like English, has a variety of words to express these nuances.

Learning these different terms will not only expand your vocabulary but also help you understand and express yourself with greater precision, making you sound more like a native speaker.

So, for that reason, let's explore nine different ways to say "reason" in French!

1. The standard 'reason' or 'cause' – la raison

The most common and direct way to say 'reason' in French is la raison. It's a versatile noun that covers the concept of a cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event.

La raison directly translates to 'the reason'. It is a feminine noun, so you will always see it preceded by feminine articles like la or une. It's used just like its English counterpart to explain why something happened.

One of the most important phrases to learn with this word is the expression avoir raison, which means 'to be right'. This is extremely common. For example, Tu as raison means 'You are right.' Notice that French uses the verb avoir (to have), not être (to be).

To ask 'for what reason?' or a more emphatic 'why?', you can use the phrase pour quelle raison ?. This is a slightly more formal alternative to the common pourquoi ?. For instance: Pour quelle raison n'es-tu pas venu ? (For what reason did you not come?).

In its plural form, les raisons, it simply means 'the reasons'. It's used to list multiple justifications or causes. For example: Il y a plusieurs raisons à ma décision. (There are several reasons for my decision).

While often interchangeable, there's a slight nuance. La raison often implies a logical justification or a motive behind a human decision, whereas la cause refers more to the direct, often scientific or factual, origin of an event. For example, you'd talk about la cause of a disease, but la raison for choosing a specific treatment.

💡 * Quelle est la raison de ton retard ? (What is the reason for your delay?)

• Tu as raison, nous devrions partir maintenant. (You are right, we should leave now.)
• Il m'a donné une bonne raison de rester. (He gave me a good reason to stay.)
• Pour des raisons de sécurité, le musée est fermé. (For security reasons, the museum is closed.)

The 'motive' or 'grounds' – le motif

The 'motive' or 'grounds' – le motif

Le motif is a masculine noun that translates to 'motive', 'reason', 'cause', or 'grounds'. It is typically used in more formal or specific contexts than the more common word for 'reason', la raison.

One of the primary uses for le motif is in official, administrative, or legal contexts. It refers to the specific justification for an action. For example, a legal document will state the motifs (grounds) for a decision, and an employer must provide a motif for dismissing an employee.

Interestingly, le motif has a second, very different meaning in the world of art and design. Here, it means a 'pattern' or a recurring decorative 'design' or 'theme'. You can talk about the motif floral (floral pattern) on a dress or the main motif in a piece of music.

While both can mean 'reason', le motif is the underlying, often profound or official cause, whereas la raison is the general, everyday explanation. You give la raison for being late to a party, but a detective looks for the motif behind a crime.

💡 * Quel est le motif de votre visite ? (What is the reason for your visit?)

• Le juge a expliqué les motifs de sa décision. (The judge explained the grounds for his decision.)
• J'aime beaucoup le motif de ce papier peint. (I really like the pattern of this wallpaper.)
• Le licenciement pour motif économique est strictement réglementé. (Dismissal for economic reasons is strictly regulated.)

1. The 'cause' or 'origin' – la cause

The most direct and common way to say 'cause' in French is la cause. As a direct cognate, its primary meaning is easy to grasp, referring to the reason, origin, or motive for an action or event.

La cause is a feminine noun. You would say une cause (a cause) or la cause (the cause). It functions just like its English counterpart in sentences identifying the reason for something.

One of the most crucial uses of this word is in the expression à cause de, which translates to 'because of'. This phrase is fundamental for explaining why something happened.

The phrase à cause de is typically used when the cause leads to a neutral or negative result. For instance, if you missed a train because of traffic, you would use à cause de la circulation. For positive outcomes, French speakers prefer using grâce à (thanks to).

Like in English, la cause can also refer to a greater ideal, principle, or movement that someone supports. For example, défendre une noble cause means 'to defend a noble cause'.

💡 * La police recherche la cause de l'accident. (The police are looking for the cause of the accident.)

• Le match est annulé à cause de la pluie. (The game is canceled because of the rain.)
• Il est fatigué à cause de son travail. (He is tired because of his work.)
• Elle se bat pour la cause animale. (She fights for the animal rights cause.)

The 'excuse' or 'pretext' – le prétexte

The 'excuse' or 'pretext' – le prétexte

Le prétexte translates to 'pretext' or 'excuse' in English. It specifically refers to a reason given to justify an action that is not the real reason.

Unlike a simple 'excuse', a prétexte strongly implies a hidden or ulterior motive. It's the official story used to conceal the true intention.

As a masculine noun (le prétexte), it is often used in the construction sous prétexte de (under the pretext of) or servir de prétexte (to serve as a pretext).

💡 * Il a utilisé sa maladie comme prétexte pour ne pas aller au travail.

• Sous prétexte d'un mal de tête, elle a quitté la fête plus tôt.
• La réunion était un prétexte pour voir son collègue.
• Ne cherche pas de prétextes, admets simplement ton erreur.

The 'explanation' – l'explication

The most direct and common way to say 'explanation' in French is l'explication. It's a fundamental word you'll encounter frequently in both written and spoken French.

Explication is a feminine noun. Therefore, you must use feminine articles like une or la. Because it starts with a vowel, the definite article la contracts to l' , creating l'explication.

This noun is directly derived from the verb expliquer, which means 'to explain'. Recognizing these noun-verb pairs is a key skill for expanding your French vocabulary.

L'explication is versatile and used in all registers, from formal academic settings to casual conversations. It's often paired with verbs like donner (to give), demander (to ask for), or chercher (to look for).

Use this word whenever you need clarification or want to provide a reason for something. For instance, you can say, J'ai besoin d'une explication (I need an explanation) when you're confused.

💡 * Je n'ai pas compris, j'ai besoin d'une explication.

• Merci pour ton explication, c'est beaucoup plus clair maintenant.
• Le professeur a donné une explication détaillée du problème.
• Il n'y a aucune explication logique à son comportement.

The 'why' or 'the reason why' – le pourquoi

In French, when you want to discuss 'the why' or 'the reason why' as a noun, you use the term le pourquoi. This is created by simply taking the interrogative word pourquoi (why) and adding the masculine definite article le, effectively turning the question of 'why' into the concept of 'the reason'.

Le pourquoi functions as a masculine noun in a sentence. It can be a subject or an object and is very often followed by the preposition de (or its contractions du, des) to connect it to the situation or event in question. For example, le pourquoi de son départ translates to 'the reason for his departure'.

It's crucial not to mix up le pourquoi (the reason) with the adverb pourquoi (why). Pourquoi asks a question or introduces a clause, whereas le pourquoi refers to the reason itself. For instance: Je demande pourquoi il est parti (I'm asking why he left) vs. Je ne connais pas le pourquoi de son départ (I don't know the reason for his departure).

A very common French expression is le pourquoi du comment, which literally means 'the why of the how'. It's the equivalent of the English idiom 'the whys and wherefores' or 'the ins and outs', used when you want to understand all the detailed reasons and mechanics behind something.

💡 * Je ne comprends pas le pourquoi de cette décision.

• Le détective cherche le pourquoi du crime.
• Elle veut connaître le pourquoi du comment avant d'accepter l'offre.
• Explique-moi le pourquoi de ton retard.

The 'justification' – la justification

The French noun la justification is a direct equivalent of the English word 'justification'. As a feminine noun, it is always used with articles like la or une. It refers to the reason, proof, or explanation that validates an action, decision, or statement.

This term is frequently used in formal, administrative, or academic contexts. For example, you might be asked for a justification d'absence (a note explaining an absence) at school or work, or a justification de domicile (proof of address) for official documents. It is the noun form of the verb justifier (to justify).

💡 * Le professeur demande une justification pour chaque absence.

• Quelle est la justification de cette nouvelle règle ?
• Pour vous inscrire, vous devez fournir une pièce d'identité et une justification de domicile.
• Il a essayé de trouver une justification à son comportement.

The 'argument' or 'point' – l'argument

The 'argument' or 'point' – l'argument

The French noun l'argument (masculine) directly translates to 'argument,' 'point,' or 'reasoning.' It refers to a fact or statement used to support a proposition or persuade someone. Think of it as the logical building block of a debate or a persuasive essay.

Crucially, l'argument does not mean a quarrel or a fight. This is a common false friend for English speakers. If you want to talk about a heated disagreement, you would use une dispute or une querelle. L'argument is purely about the logical points being made.

You'll often hear this word in phrases like présenter un argument (to present an argument) or un argument de poids (a strong/weighty argument).

💡 * Son principal argument est que le projet est trop coûteux. (His main argument is that the project is too expensive.)

• J'ai écouté ses arguments, mais je ne suis pas d'accord. (I listened to his points, but I don't agree.)
• Pourriez-vous développer cet argument ? (Could you elaborate on that point?)
• C'est un argument qui ne tient pas la route. (That's an argument that doesn't hold water.)

1. The 'Motive' for a Crime: Le Mobile

In French, the specific word for the 'motive' behind a crime is le mobile. This noun is always masculine. While you might think of the English cognate motif, in French, le motif typically means 'reason' in a general sense or 'pattern', not the specific driving cause for a crime.

You will most often encounter le mobile in legal, police, or journalistic contexts, like in crime reports or detective novels. Common phrases include le mobile du crime (the motive for the crime) or when police cherchent le mobile (look for the motive).

It's crucial not to confuse le mobile with le motif. While both can mean 'reason', le mobile is almost exclusively reserved for the underlying reason for committing a crime. In contrast, le motif is a broader term for a cause or justification. For example, you would say le motif de son retard (the reason for his lateness), but le mobile du meurtre (the motive for the murder).

💡 * Les enquêteurs n'ont toujours pas trouvé le mobile du crime. (The investigators still haven't found the motive for the crime.)

• La jalousie était son principal mobile. (Jealousy was his main motive.)
• Quel est le mobile de ce vol à main armée ? (What is the motive for this armed robbery?)
• Le suspect n'a aucun mobile apparent. (The suspect has no apparent motive.)

Are there other ways to say 'reason' in French?

Are there other ways to say “reason” in French?

Our list covers the most essential ways to say “reason” in French, from raison to motif. But the language is full of nuance, and you will find other terms in specific contexts, whether in formal legal documents, philosophical arguments, or casual conversation.

You can expand your vocabulary by searching online for “synonyme de raison” or by looking up how to express the reason for something, like “la raison d'un choix” (the reason for a choice).

When you encounter a new word for “reason,” like cause or justification, always check its definition and look for example sentences. This will help you grasp the subtle differences and use the word correctly.

Pay close attention as you read French news, watch debates, or listen to podcasts. You’ll begin to notice how native speakers articulate their logic and justifications, which is a fantastic way to learn organically.

For a deeper dive into the nuances and related expressions, the WordReference entry for raison is an excellent starting point. It provides context, forums, and compound phrases.

I hope this article has helped clarify the different ways to express “reason” in French. Let’s end with a classic and profound quote from the French philosopher Blaise Pascal: Le cœur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point. (The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing.)