pourquoi
/puʁ.kwa/
The French phrase pourquoi means pourquoi (phrase).
pourquoi is used to ask why.
How does it change in a sentence?
While you use pourquoi to ask 'why', the standard way to answer a 'pourquoi' question is with parce que.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables and is pronounced /puʁ.kwa/.
Did you know?
- If you want to ask 'Why?' as a standalone exclamation of disbelief or shock, French speakers often use Comment ? or Quoi ? instead of just repeating Pourquoi ?
- The expression le pourquoi du comment is a common idiom used to describe the full explanation or the 'ins and outs' of a situation.
- The literal breakdown of the word is 'for' (pour) and 'what' (quoi), which translates the concept of 'for what reason'.
Examples in context
- Pour quelle raison avons-nous observé une baisse des ventes ce trimestre?Why did we witness a decrease in sales this quarter?
- Pourquoi cette théorie est-elle considérée comme fondamentale en physique quantique?Why is this theory deemed fundamental in quantum physics?
- Pourquoi tu n'es pas venu(e) à la fête hier soir?Why didn't you come to the party last night?
- Pourquoi tu aimes tant faire de la photographie?Why do you enjoy photography so much?
- Pourquoi est-ce que tu pleures ?Why are you crying?
- Pourquoi ne pas aller au cinéma ?Why not go to the movies?
- Dis-moi pourquoi tu es en retard.Tell me why you are late.
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan are talking in a coffee shop.
- NathanPourquoi est-ce que tu ne manges pas ?Why are you not eating?
- EmmaJe n'ai pas très faim, Nathan.I am not very hungry, Nathan.
- NathanPourquoi ? Tu étais pourtant affamée.Why? You were starving, though.
- EmmaC'est juste comme ça.That is just how it is.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pourquoi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pourquoi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
