German Conversation · Level 20
90 words
German word
wegen
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈveːgn̩/
Meaning
- prepositionbecause of
Example
Ich kam wegen des Staus zu spät.
I arrived late because of the traffic jam.
More examples
Der Flug wurde wegen des Sturms abgesagt.
The flight was canceled due to the storm.
Core concept
An outside obstacle sets off a consequence, like a traffic jam making a journey late.
Common phrases
wegen des Sturms
due to the storm
wegen des Staus
due to the traffic jam
Similar words
für: Shows the intended purpose or the person meant to receive something.
dank: Shows that a positive result came from a helpful cause.
Definition in German
Einen kausalen Zusammenhang ausdrückt und in der Standardsprache den Genitiv regiert, umgangssprachlich aber oft mit Dativ gebraucht wird.
Word origin
German wegen developed from the genitive form of Weg, 'way', and came to mark the grounds on which something happens.
Usage tips
- In formal standard German, wegen normally takes the genitive, as in wegen des Staus, although dative usage is common in speech.
Opposites
- dankthanks topreposition