Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| porque | /ˈpoɾke/ |
| ya que | /ˈʝa ke/ |
| por cuanto | /poɾ ˈkwanto/ |
| pues | /ˈpwes/ /ˈpos/ (colloquial) |
| ca | /ˈka/ |
| car | /ˈkaɾ/ |
These terms are conjunctions used to express a cause, reason or the account that something is happening.
Which one should you use?
While porque is the standard conjunction for 'because', the single word porqué is a noun that means 'the reason' or 'the cause'. Additionally, you can use specific forms like ya que to mean 'since' or 'as' or por cuanto to mean 'inasmuch as'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For more formal contexts, you can use ya que (since/as) or debido a que (due to the fact that). Por cuanto is a highly formal or legalistic option. Conversely, pues is a more colloquial or conversational way to express 'since' or 'because' in many dialects.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpoɾke/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use the two-word form por que when you intend to mean 'because'. The conjunction should always be written as the single word porque.
Did you know?
- The conjunction porque is actually a linguistic blend of the word 'for' and the word 'what'.
- In some Spanish dialects, the word pues can be used as an emphatic particle at the end of a sentence to express a sense of 'obviously'.
Examples in context
- Porque él me invitó.Because he invited me.This sentence shows how to express a reason for an action using porque.Tatoeba #1539912 by marcelostockle, translation #36424 by espamatics
- Lloro porque te amo.I'm crying because I love you.This sentence demonstrates how to express the cause of an emotion using porque.Tatoeba #7947360 by Seael, translation #13058589 by rul
- Lo hago porque quiero.I do it because I want to.This sentence shows how to express the reason for a desire using porque.Tatoeba #901960 by Shishir, translation #388616 by kurisutofu
- No puedo asistir a la reunión porque tengo un compromiso importanteI can't attend the meeting because I have an important commitment
- Voy a llegar tarde a la conferencia debido a que hubo un accidente en la autopistaI will arrive late to the conference because there was an accident on the highway
- No podemos aceptar la oferta ya que va en contra de nuestra política de empresaWe cannot accept the offer since it goes against our company policy
- No puedo ir de compras porque no tengo dineroI can't go shopping because I don't have money
- No vine a la fiesta puesto que no me encontraba bienI didn't come to the party because I wasn't feeling well
- No salgo de casa porque está lloviendoI'm not leaving the house because it's raining
- No puedo comprar ese libro porque es demasiado caroI can't buy that book because it's too expensive
- No puedo quedarme porque tengo que ir al doctorI can't stay because I have to go to the doctor
- 1185 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are talking about why Daniel is tired.
- DanielEstoy muy cansado hoy.I am very tired today.
- Lucía¿Por qué estás cansado, Daniel?Why are you tired, Daniel?
- DanielPorque trabajé hasta tarde anoche.Because I worked until late last night.
- LucíaDeberías descansar un poco.You should rest a bit.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “because” translations and entries porque, ya que, por cuanto, pues, ca, car, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuanto, por, porque, pues, que, ya, ya que, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
