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¿por qué? means why? — a common term in Essential Spanish. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: August 20, 2025

📘 Essential Spanish

¿por qué?

question • /[por KEH]/

why?

Example:

¿Por qué estás aquí tan temprano?

Why are you here so early?

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🧠 What does ¿por qué? mean?

The Spanish phrase '¿por qué?' means 'why?' in English. It's a fundamental question word used to inquire about the reason or cause behind something. Remember the upside-down question mark at the beginning – it's a key part of Spanish punctuation and signals the start of a question.

📚 Extra examples

  • ¿Por qué estudias español?
    Why are you studying Spanish?
  • ¿Por qué no viniste a la fiesta?
    Why didn't you come to the party?
  • ¿Por qué el cielo es azul?
    Why is the sky blue?
  • ¿Por qué te gusta ese libro?
    Why do you like that book?

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'why?' in Spanish?
The Spanish word for 'why?' is '¿por qué?'.
How do you pronounce '¿por qué?' in Spanish?
It's pronounced roughly as 'por keh', with the stress on the second syllable ('keh'). The 'r' is a soft, rolled 'r'.
How do you use '¿por qué?' in a sentence?
Always remember to use both the opening upside-down question mark (¿) and the regular closing question mark (?) when writing '¿por qué?'. For example: '¿Por qué estás feliz?' (Why are you happy?).
What is the English translation of '¿por qué?'?
The English translation of '¿por qué?' is 'why?'.
Does '¿por qué?' change for gender or number?
No, '¿por qué?' remains the same regardless of gender or number.
Is '¿por qué?' common in everyday Spanish?
Yes, '¿por qué?' is extremely common and essential for everyday communication in Spanish.
Does '¿por qué?' have slang or double meanings?
No, '¿por qué?' doesn't have any slang or double meanings. It's a straightforward way of asking 'why?'.
Is '¿por qué?' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
No, '¿por qué?' is used the same way in Spain and Latin America.

💡 Did You Know?

The literal translation of '¿por qué?' is 'for what reason?' This can help you understand the logic behind the phrase.

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