защото

Giving Reasons with Защото

Level 1Sounds Like zaŝoto

Защото means "because": Оставам вкъщи, защото вали. (I am staying home because it is raining.)

How It Works

The basic pattern
Main clause + , + защото + reason:

  • Уча български, защото живея в София. — I am learning Bulgarian because I live in Sofia.
  • Оставам вкъщи, защото вали. — I am staying home because it is raining.

The comma
Bulgarian puts a comma before защото, as it does before most words that start a clause (see Commas Before Subordinate Clauses). One exception: when a word like само (only) stands right before it, there is no comma: Дойдох само защото ме покани. (I came only because you invited me.)

Answering защо
In speech, an answer can begin with защото alone:
— Защо не ядеш? — Защото не съм гладен. ("Why aren't you eating?" — "Because I'm not hungry.")

Reason or result?
Защото introduces the reason. To introduce the result ("so, that's why"), use затова: Вали, затова оставам вкъщи. (It is raining, so I am staying home.)

Other ways to say "because"
To put the reason first, speakers more often use понеже: Понеже вали, оставам вкъщи. In formal writing you will also meet тъй като.

Examples (5)

  1. Уча български, защото живея в София.

    I am learning Bulgarian because I live in Sofia.

    Word by Word: I-learn Bulgarian, because I-live in Sofia.

  2. Оставам вкъщи, защото вали.

    I am staying home because it is raining.

    Word by Word: I-stay at-home, because it-rains.

  3. — Защо не ядеш? — Защото не съм гладен.

    "Why aren't you eating?" "Because I'm not hungry."

    Word by Word: — Why not you-eat? — Because not I-am hungry.

    A reply to защо can start with защото.

  4. Лягам си рано, защото утре работя.

    I am going to bed early because I work tomorrow.

    Word by Word: I-lie-down early, because tomorrow I-work.

  5. Обичам зимата, защото мога да карам ски.

    I love winter because I can ski.

    Word by Word: I-love winter-the, because I-can to drive skis.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out the comma before защото.

    Оставам вкъщи защото вали.
    Оставам вкъщи, защото вали.

    A clause starting with защото is separated from the main clause by a comma.

  • Using защо ("why") instead of защото ("because").

    Уча български, защо живея в София.
    Уча български, защото живея в София.

    Защо asks a question. To give a reason, use защото.

  • Using защото to introduce a result (a meaning mismatch).

    Вали, защото оставам вкъщи. (meaning: It is raining, so I am staying home)
    Вали, затова оставам вкъщи.

    Защото introduces the cause. With защото this sentence says the rain happens because you stay home. For a result, use затова.

How It Connects

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

защотоLevel 1Giving Reasons with Защото

Learn This First

Giving reasons follows asking why.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

защотозащо