French word

pourquoi

Pronunciation

IPA/puʁkwa/

Meaning

  • adverbwhy

Example

Tu sais pourquoi il est en retard ?

Do you know why he is late?

Illustration for pourquoi (why)

More examples

Je ne comprends pas pourquoi il a dit ça.

I don't understand why he said that.

Core concept

A question mark aimed behind an event, seeking the reason that explains it.

Common phrases

  • pourquoi pas

    why not

  • pourquoi est-ce que

    why ___?

  • pourquoi faire

    what for

Similar words

comment: Used to ask how an action is carried out or what something is like.
où: Used to ask where something is located or positioned.
quand: Used to ask about the time or period when something occurs.
combien: Used to ask about an amount, the price, or the extent of something.

Definition in French

Sert à poser une question sur le motif ou la cause de ce qui arrive ou de ce que fait quelqu'un.

Word origin

Pourquoi comes from Old French por quoi, meaning 'for what', with por from Latin pro and quoi from Latin quid.

Usage tips

  • In a direct question, pourquoi can accompany inversion, as in Pourquoi est-il en retard?, while indirect questions normally keep regular word order.

Word lists with this word