How to Say "Why" in Telugu - How To Say Guide

ఎందుకు

enduku/en̪d̪uku/

The Telugu word for "why" is ఎందుకు (enduku).

ఎందుకు is an interrogative adverb used to ask for the reason

Meaning: (interrogative) for what reason (adv)

How does it change in a sentence?

The adverb ఎందుకు does not change its form based on the tense of the sentence or the subject being discussed.

The pronunciation is /en̪d̪uku/. The romanization is enduku.

While ఎందుకు is the standard way to ask 'why', in many Telugu dialects, people might use the word ఏం (meaning 'what') in a specific tone to imply 'why' or 'what for'.
When ఎందుకు is used in a negative sentence, it can shift from asking for a reason to expressing a lack of necessity, similar to 'why bother'.
The root of ఎందుకు shares a common ancestor with the Tamil word எது (ethu), meaning 'which', showing how many Dravidian languages use a similar logic for questioning.

జిరాఫీలు ఎందుకు పాడలేవు?
Why can't giraffes sing?
This sentence is useful for asking why giraffes cannot sing using ఎందుకు.
Tatoeba #7207610 by bharath, translation #6199683 by sundown
ఆమెకి అబద్దం ఎందుకు చెప్పావు?
Why did you lie to her?
This sentence is useful for asking why you lied to her using ఎందుకు.
Tatoeba #7210928 by bharath, translation #3907150 by CH
తను ఎందుకు అంత కోపంగా ఉందొ నీకు తెలుసా?
Do you know the reason why she is so angry?
This sentence is useful for asking if someone knows the reason why she is angry using ఎందుకు.
Tatoeba #7204890 by bharath, translation #307982 by CS
4 more sentences on Tatoeba

Lakshmi asks Kiran why he is leaving early.

లక్ష్మి Lakshmi

నువ్వు ఎందుకు త్వరగా వెళ్తున్నావు?
nuvvu enduku tvaraga veḷtunnāvu?
Why are you leaving early?
కిరణ్ Kiran

నాకు కొంచెం పని ఉంది.
nāku koṇcheṃ pani undi.
I have some work.
లక్ష్మి Lakshmi

అలా ఎందుకు చెప్పలేదు?
alā enduku ceppalēdu?
Why didn't you say so?
కిరణ్ Kiran

మర్చిపోయాను, క్షమించు.
marcipōyānu, kṣamiñcu.
I forgot, sorry.

Sources

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