How should I say "so" or "therefore"?

Question

What word should I used in Spanish to express "so" or "therefore"? I'm thinking of the equivalent of "donc" in French. The sentence I want to write is that "XX is a university city, therefore/so it is very lively". Por consiguiente or así que...?

Answer 1

Por lo tanto

Answer 2

I don't think así que is the best choice there, but por consiguiente is fine, or por lo tanta as domhart suggested.

Or simply: por eso.

Answer 3

Lorenzo - I only gave a shortened version of my sentence. The original reads, "Montpellier is a university city with students from all over the world. There are many cheap cafés and bars, therefore/and so the nightlife there is very lively."

I would use so rather than therefore in that sentence. However, I should point out that I'm a mathematician/scientist, so my use of therefore maybe stricter than normal. - lorenzo9, Nov 21, 2010

I think most people, certainly in the UK, will use the two interchangeably. - Pibosan, Nov 21, 2010

Answer 4

I wouldn't use therefore in English or por o tanto in Spanish for this specific example. Both denote strict logical consequence (at least to me) and being lively is merely a tendency of university cities.