Pourquoi (en. Why)

/puʁ.kwa/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

adjective

Used to ask a question about the cause or reason.

Why are you late?

Pourquoi es-tu en retard ?

Phrase asking to understand the motive for an action.

I don't understand why he acted that way.

Je ne comprends pas pourquoi il a agi ainsi.

Allows inquiry into the logic of an event or situation.

Why do birds migrate?

Pourquoi les oiseaux migrent-ils ?

From Old French 'pour quoi', literally 'for what thing'.

Why not?

Expression used to suggest that an option is valid.

Pourquoi pas ?

I don't know why

Indicates ignorance about the cause of an event.

Je ne sais pas pourquoi

For what reason?

Formal synonym of why, used to ask for an explanation.

Pour quelle raison ?

for

Preposition indicating a direction or intention.

pour

what

Interrogative pronoun used to ask for details.

quoi

provided

Indicating hope or desire for something to happen.

pourvu

Why not do something.

If you like it, why not?

Si ça te plaît, pourquoi pas ?

An informal way to ask for the reason.

You're here, but why?

T'es là, mais pourquoi ?