por que / porque

Why and Because

Level 1

Ask why with por que (two words). Answer because with porque (one word). Por que estudas galego? Porque vivo en Galicia.

How It Works

Asking why: por que. Write it as two separate words at the start of a question: Por que estudas galego? (Why are you studying Galician?), Por que non vés? (Why are you not coming?)

Indirect questions. When "why" sits inside a longer sentence, it is still two words: Non sei por que chora. (I do not know why he is crying.) See indirect questions.

Giving the reason: porque. Write it as one word: Porque vivo en Galicia. (Because I live in Galicia.), Non vou porque estou cansado. (I am not going because I am tired.) See giving reasons.

The reason: o porqué. With an article in front, porqué is a noun meaning "the reason", and it takes an accent: Non entendo o porqué. (I do not understand the reason.)

Quick check. If you can replace it with xa que (since), write porque. If it asks a question, write por que. If it has an article and means "reason", write o porqué.

Like other question words, por que pulls a pronoun before the verb: Por que te vas? (Why are you leaving?)

Examples (6)

  1. Por que estudas galego?

    Why are you studying Galician?

    Word by Word: For what you-study Galician?

  2. Porque vivo en Galicia.

    Because I live in Galicia.

  3. Por que non vés connosco?

    Why are you not coming with us?

  4. Non vou porque estou cansado.

    I am not going because I am tired.

  5. Non sei por que chora.

    I do not know why he is crying.

    Word by Word: Not I-know for what cries.

    Inside a sentence, "why" is still written as two words.

  6. Non entendo o porqué.

    I do not understand the reason.

    With the article, porqué is a noun and takes an accent.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing the question word as one word.

    Porque estudas galego?
    Por que estudas galego?

    When it asks why, it is two words: por que.

  • Adding a Spanish-style accent to the question.

    Por qué non vés?
    Por que non vés?

    Galician question words take no accent, so por que is written without one.

  • Writing the answer as two words.

    Estudo galego por que vivo en Galicia.
    Estudo galego porque vivo en Galicia.

    When it gives a reason, it is one word: porque.

How It Connects

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

por que / porqueLevel 1Why and Because

Learn This First

Por que asks for a reason and porque introduces that reason.

Words in This Pattern