защо
Asking Why
Защо means "why": Защо учиш български? (Why are you learning Bulgarian?). The answer usually starts with защото (because).
How It Works
Word order
Защо + verb + the rest. The subject pronoun is usually left out, because the verb ending already shows the person. A named subject can stand before or after the verb: Защо Иван плаче? or Защо плаче Иван? (Why is Ivan crying?)
- Защо учиш български? — Why are you learning Bulgarian?
- Защо сте тук? — Why are you here?
Since защо already makes a question, an ordinary why-question does not add the particle ли. That particle is for yes-no questions. Much later you will meet защо ли (I wonder why), which is a different kind of question.
Asking and answering
The answer to защо starts with защото:
— Защо закъсня? — Защото изпуснах автобуса. ("Why were you late?" — "Because I missed the bus.")
Защо не …?
- Защо не спиш? — Why aren't you sleeping?
- Защо не дойдеш с нас? — Why don't you come with us? (a friendly suggestion)
- Защо не? — Why not? (agreeing to an idea)
Inside a sentence
Защо can also start a clause inside a longer sentence: Не знам защо плаче. (I don't know why she is crying.)
Examples (6)
- Защо учиш български?
Why are you learning Bulgarian?
Word by Word: Why you-learn Bulgarian?
- Защо не спиш?
Why aren't you sleeping?
Word by Word: Why not you-sleep?
Не goes right before the verb.
- — Защо закъсня? — Защото изпуснах автобуса.
"Why were you late?" "Because I missed the bus."
Word by Word: — Why you-were-late? — Because I-missed bus-the.
The answer to защо starts with защото.
- Защо не дойдеш с нас?
Why don't you come with us?
Word by Word: Why not you-come with us?
Защо не …? can make a friendly suggestion.
- Не знам защо плаче.
I don't know why she is crying.
Word by Word: Not I-know why she-cries.
Защо here starts a clause inside a longer sentence.
- Защо сте тук?
Why are you here?
Word by Word: Why you-are here?
Common Mistakes
Adding ли to a question that already starts with защо.
Защо ти учиш ли български?Защо учиш български?Защо already makes a question, so an ordinary why-question needs no ли. Ли marks yes-no questions.
Answering with защо instead of защото.
— Защо не дойде? — Защо бях болен.— Защо не дойде? — Защото бях болен.Защо asks "why"; защото means "because". The answer needs защото.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- защотоGiving Reasons with Защото
Защото gives the answer to a защо question.
Level 1 - лиYes-No Questions with Ли
Ли makes yes-no questions; an ordinary защо question does not need it, but защо ли means “I wonder why.”
Level 1 - какAsking How
Как is another question word that starts a question the same way.
Level 1 - каквоAsking What
Какво asks "what", often in the same position at the start of the question.
Level 1 - не + VerbNegation with Не
Защо не …? puts не right before the verb.
Level 1 - Question Word + ли (Wondering)Wondering Questions with Ли
Later you will meet защо ли, which means "I wonder why".
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice защо in Bubblegum
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