pourquoi

Why with Pourquoi

Level 1

Pourquoi is the standard French word for "why." It is used to ask for a reason or cause and is almost always answered with parce que (because).

How It Works

1. Usage in Questions
Depending on the level of formality, you can place pourquoi in different structures:

  • Formal (Inversion): Pourquoi pleures-tu ? (Why are you crying?)
  • Neutral (Est-ce que): Pourquoi est-ce que tu pleures ?
  • Informal (Intonation): Pourquoi tu pleures ?
  • Very Informal: In casual speech, you can place it at the end: Tu pleures pourquoi ?

2. Phonology and Spelling
Unlike many short French words, pourquoi never drops its final vowel before another vowel. You must always write the full word: Pourquoi il est là ? (Never pourqu'il).

3. Indirect Questions
You can use pourquoi to report a question: Je ne sais pas pourquoi elle est partie. (I don't know why she left). Important: In these sentences, you must use normal word order (Subject + Verb). Inversion and 'est-ce que' are forbidden here.

4. Pourquoi vs. Pour quoi
Be careful with spelling! Pourquoi (one word) asks for a reason. Pour quoi (two words) is rarer and asks for a specific goal or object ("For what?").

Examples (4)

  1. Pourquoi est-ce que tu apprends le français ?

    Why are you learning French?

    Word by Word: Why is it that you learn the French?

    This uses the standard 'est-ce que' structure, which is very common in everyday conversation.

  2. Pourquoi n'êtes-vous pas venu à la fête ?

    Why didn't you come to the party?

    Word by Word: Why not are you not come to the party?

    A formal example using subject-verb inversion and negation.

  3. Je me demande pourquoi il fait ça.

    I wonder why he is doing that.

    Word by Word: I me wonder why he does that.

    An indirect question where 'pourquoi' connects two clauses.

  4. Pourquoi elle rit ?

    Why is she laughing?

    Word by Word: Why she laughs?

    An informal structure common in spoken French where the word order remains like a statement.

Common Mistakes

  • Using elision (pourqu') before a vowel.

    Pourqu'il est en retard ?
    Pourquoi il est en retard ?

    Unlike 'que', 'pourquoi' never elides. You must keep the full word even if the next word starts with a vowel.

  • Using inversion or 'est-ce que' in an indirect question.

    Je ne sais pas pourquoi est-il parti.
    Je ne sais pas pourquoi il est parti.

    In indirect questions (sentences that report a question), you must use normal subject-verb word order. Do not use inversion or 'est-ce que'.

  • Using simple inversion with a noun subject after 'pourquoi'.

    Different MeaningPourquoi pleure l'enfant ?
    Pourquoi l'enfant pleure-t-il ?

    'Pourquoi pleure l'enfant ?' is correct in careful or literary French. In everyday French, the usual choices are 'Pourquoi l'enfant pleure-t-il ?' or 'Pourquoi est-ce que l'enfant pleure ?'.

How It Connects

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

pourquoiLevel 1Why with Pourquoi

Learn This First

To use 'pourquoi' (why), you need to understand how basic French sentences are structured and how to form questions using either intonation or the 'est-ce que' marker.

Words in This Pattern

pourquoi