German word

deswegen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈdɛsveːgn̩/

Meaning

  • adverbthat's why

Example

Wir haben kein Geld gesammelt, deswegen kann das Projekt nicht starten.

We haven't raised any money, so the project can't start.

Illustration for deswegen (that's why)

More examples

Es hat stark geschneit, deswegen fällt der Zug aus.

It snowed heavily; that's why the train is not running.

Core concept

A short bridge carries a stated reason directly to its resulting consequence.

Common phrases

  • deswegen bleibe ich

    that's why I am staying

  • deswegen bin ich zu spät

    that's why I am late

  • deswegen ist das so

    that's why it is this way

Similar words

deshalb: Briefly signals that a result follows from a stated reason.
darum: Shows that a situation occurs because of a stated reason.
daher: Signals a result that follows from a preceding cause.

Definition in German

deswegen ist ein Adverb, das einen Grund nennt und knapp die daraus folgende Konsequenz zusammenfasst.

Word origin

The adverb deswegen combines des, an old genitive form meaning 'that', with wegen, 'because of', yielding 'because of that'.

Usage tips

  • As a conjunctional adverb, deswegen keeps a main-clause verb in second position, so a first-position deswegen places the subject after the verb.

Other meanings

  • thereforeadverb
  • consequentlyadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word