zašto / jer

Why and Because

Level 2

Zašto means why, and jer means because.

How It Works

A question and its answer use two different words.

  • Zašto ideš kući? Why are you going home?
  • Jer sam umoran. Because I am tired.

Jer connects the reason to the main part. You can say the reason after the main sentence, with jer in between: Ne idem u školu jer sam bolestan.

In the short answer to a zašto question, jer comes first and the reason follows. This is natural in speech, and also in writing when it is a quoted answer.

Another word for because is zato što. It is common in speech and writing. You will learn it at Level 4.

There is a word zato too, and it means that is why. Do not mix them up. Zašto asks the reason, and zato gives a result.

Examples (4)

  1. Zašto ideš kući?

    Why are you going home?

    Zašto starts the question.

  2. Idem kući jer sam umoran.

    I am going home because I am tired.

    Jer joins the reason to the main sentence.

  3. Zašto Amir ne dolazi?

    Why isn't Amir coming?

    The question word comes first.

  4. Jer je bolestan.

    Because he is ill.

    Jer can start a short answer.

Common Mistakes

  • Using zašto in the answer.

    Idem kući zašto sam umoran.
    Idem kući jer sam umoran.

    Zašto asks. Jer gives the reason.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

zašto / jerLevel 2Why and Because

Learn This First

Zašto asks why and jer gives the reason.

Words in This Pattern

zaštojer