Portuguese · Question Words
Por que
[/puʁ ke/]
Why
Beginneradverb
Definition
Used to ask for the reason or purpose of something.
Usado para perguntar a razão ou propósito de algo.
Example
Por que você está triste?
Why are you sad?
Etymology
'Por que' consists of 'por' (for) and 'que' (what), originating from the Latin structure questioning reason or purpose.
How & Where It’s Used
'Por que' is prevalent in both written and spoken Portuguese as a way to inquire about reasoning, commonly used across different contexts and regions.
Cultural Note
In Brazilian Portuguese, "por que" (2 words) is the question form; "porque" (1 word) is "because".