Portuguese Phrase
O que tá causando esse problema?
Meaning
Literally, 'What is causing this problem?' It asks for the source or reason behind an issue that is currently happening. The use of 'tá' makes the question informal and conversational.
When to use
Use this sentence when you notice a malfunction, error, or unexpected situation and want to know its origin—especially in casual settings like a workplace chat, a tech support call, or among friends discussing a glitch.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Oquetácausandoesseproblema?
O que
The interrogative phrase 'o que' means 'what' and is used to ask about things or reasons.
tá (está)
A colloquial contraction of the verb 'estar' in the third‑person singular present; used in informal spoken Portuguese.
causando
Gerund form of 'causar' (to cause); indicates an ongoing action.
esse
Demonstrative adjective meaning 'this' (near the listener); agrees in gender and number with the noun.
problema
Masculine noun meaning 'problem'; note that despite ending in -a, it is masculine.
🗨In Conversation
O que tá causando esse problema?
What is causing this problem?
Pelo que eu vi, o servidor está sobrecarregado.
From what I saw, the server is overloaded.
✕Common Mistakes
Qual tá causando esse problema?
Use 'o que' for asking about reasons; 'qual' asks for a specific item.
O que tá causando esse problema?
In formal contexts replace 'tá' with 'está'.
↔Alternatives
O que está provocando esse problema?
What is provoking this problem?
Qual é a causa desse problema?
What is the cause of this problem?
O que gera esse problema?
What generates this problem?
Cultural Tip
The contraction 'tá' is typical of Brazilian informal speech and is rarely used in formal writing or in Portugal, where speakers prefer the full 'está'. When speaking to seniors, superiors, or in written communication, replace 'tá' with 'está' to keep the register polite.