German word

wieso

Pronunciation

IPA/viːˈzoː/

Meaning

  • adverbwhy

Example

Wieso kommst du nicht?

Why aren't you coming?

Illustration for wieso (why)

More examples

Wieso sollte ich das glauben?

Why should I believe that?

Core concept

A question pointing toward the reason behind an action or event.

Common phrases

  • Wieso eigentlich

    why exactly

  • Wieso ausgerechnet

    why of all things

  • Wieso so

    why like that

Similar words

warum: The most common way to ask for a cause or reason.
weshalb: Asks for a reason in formal or written contexts.
weswegen: Asks what caused an event or state.

Definition in German

Wird verwendet, um zu erfragen, weshalb etwas geschieht oder jemand so handelt, ähnlich wie „warum“.

Word origin

Wieso developed from the combination of German wie ('how') and so ('so'), historically meaning 'how so' before becoming a causal question adverb.

Usage tips

  • Wieso works in indirect questions as well as direct ones, as in Ich weiss nicht, wieso er kommt ('I do not know why he is coming').

Word lists with this word