German word

weil

Pronunciation

IPA/vaɪ̯l/

Meaning

  • conjunctionbecause

Example

Wir gehen nicht spazieren, weil es regnet.

We aren't going for a walk because it's raining.

Illustration for weil (because)

More examples

Ich komme später, weil ich spät dran bin.

I'll come later because I'm running late.

Core concept

A cause connected by an arrow to the result it explains.

Common phrases

  • weil ich spät dran bin

    because I'm running late

  • weil sie Hunger hat

    because she's hungry

  • weil das Wetter schlecht ist

    because the weather is bad

Similar words

denn: Introduces a reason while keeping normal word order, with the finite verb in second position.
da: Introduces a reason, with the finite verb at the end of the clause.

Definition in German

Einen Nebensatz einleitet und den Grund oder die Ursache für eine Aussage angibt

Word origin

Weil developed from Old High German wīl, meaning "time" or "while", as a temporal connection gradually acquired a causal meaning.

Usage tips

  • In a standard weil-clause, the finite verb moves to the end: "weil es regnet" means "because it is raining."

Other meanings

  • sinceconjunction

Opposites

Word lists with this word