Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| parce que | /paʁ.s(ə) kə/ /pas kə/ |
| car | /kaʁ/ |
| à cause que | /a koz kə/ |
The primary way to express 'by or for the cause that' or 'for the reason that' is using parce que. In response to a 'why' question, you can simply use parce que or the full phrase parce que c'est comme ça.
Which one should you use?
parce que is used to provide a reason or to answer a 'why' question, whereas à cause de is used to mean 'because of' and is followed by a noun. Additionally, car serves as a more formal alternative that is primarily used in written French rather than spoken conversation.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As a conjunction, parce que must be followed by a subject and a verb.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of parce que is /paʁ.s(ə) kə/ and it consists of 2 syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using à cause que to mean 'because'. While English speakers may attempt this based on the phrase à cause de (because of), à cause que is considered grammatically incorrect in standard French.
Did you know?
- French has two words spelled car. One is a formal conjunction meaning 'because' and the other is the common noun for a vehicle.
Examples in context
- Parce que c'est là.Because it is there.This example shows the use of parce que to indicate location.Tatoeba #792459 by sacredceltic, translation #36437 by magnificentgoddess
- Parce que je t'aime.Because I love you.This example shows the use of parce que to express affection.Tatoeba #7644285 by tras, translation #7586801 by Borkonall
- Parce que cela existe.Because it exists.This example shows the use of parce que to express existence.Tatoeba #6203289 by Sorgan, translation #6201766 by carlosalberto
- Je suis fatigué car j'ai travaillé toute la journéeI am tired because I have worked all day
- En raison de ses absences, il a obtenu de mauvaises notesBecause of his absences, he obtained bad grades
- Puisqu'il pleut, nous devons rester à l'intérieurSince it's raining, we must stay indoors
- Je suis en retard parce que j'ai raté mon busI am late because I missed my bus
- 815 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Hugo are discussing why they are staying indoors.
- EmmaPourquoi restons-nous à la maison ?Why are we staying at home?
- HugoParce que la pluie est très forte.Because the rain is very heavy.
- EmmaHugo, tu as oublié ton parapluie ?Hugo, did you forget your umbrella?
- HugoOui, parce que j'étais pressé.Yes, because I was in a hurry.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “because” translations and entries parce que, car, à cause que, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries car, parce, parce que, que, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
