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motivo

reason

noun moh-TEE-voh Common

Origin: Medieval Latin motivus, from movere (to move)

Also means

motive

Usage Note

Motivo covers both the sense of 'reason' (il motivo del ritardo — 'the reason for the delay') and 'motive' in a literary or legal sense. It is also the word for a musical or visual motif. Do not confuse with ragione, which emphasizes logical correctness ('you are right' = hai ragione).

Examples

"Non capisco il motivo della sua rabbia."

Natural Translation

I don't understand the reason for his anger.

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