dowéinst / deemno

Because of That: Dowéinst and Deemno

Level 4

Dowéinst (that's why) and deemno (so, accordingly) connect a result to its cause. They are adverbs, so the verb comes right after them: ..., dowéinst muss ech ..., ..., deemno ware manner Leit ...

How It Works

1. The meanings

  • dowéinst: because of that, that's why. It comes from do + wéinst (because of).
  • deemno: accordingly, so, as a result. It can also mean to match: eng déck Plaz an deemno och eng déck Pai (a big job and a big salary to match).

2. The verb comes next
Both words are adverbs. When one starts a clause, it takes the first place, so the verb comes second, followed by the subject. This is the same rule as for any word at the start of a main clause:

  • Ech hat eng ustrengend Woch, dowéinst muss ech de Weekend e wéineg Schlof nohuelen.
  • Et huet gereent, deemno ware manner Leit op der Kiermes.

After an (and), the order does not change, because an does not take a place of its own: ..., an deemno war och d'Stëmmung um Fest.

3. Later in the clause
Both words can also stand after the verb, in the middle of the clause: Ech hunn en Hexeschoss a muss dowéinst bei den Dokter goen.

4. Compare well and wéinst

  • well (because) gives the cause and sends the verb to the end: well ech eng ustrengend Woch hat.
  • Dowéinst gives the result, and the verb comes next: dowéinst muss ech ...
  • Wéinst on its own is a preposition before a noun: wéinst dem Reen (because of the rain). See wéinst/trotz/wärend.

Dofir and also mean nearly the same as dowéinst and use the same word order.

Examples (6)

  1. Ech hat eng ustrengend Woch, dowéinst muss ech de Weekend e wéineg Schlof nohuelen.

    I had a tiring week, so I need to catch up on some sleep at the weekend.

    Muss comes right after dowéinst, before the subject ech.

  2. D'Sonn huet mech geblent, dowéinst sinn ech an de Gruef gefuer.

    The sun blinded me, that's why I drove into the ditch.

  3. Ech hunn en Hexeschoss a muss dowéinst bei den Dokter goen.

    I have lumbago and have to see the doctor because of it.

    Here dowéinst stands in the middle of the clause.

  4. Et huet gereent, deemno ware manner Leit op der Kiermes.

    It rained, so there were fewer people at the fair.

    Ware comes right after deemno.

  5. D'Gebuertsdagskand war schlecht gelaunt, an deemno war och d'Stëmmung um Fest.

    The birthday child was in a bad mood, and the mood at the party was just as bad.

    An does not count as a place, so the verb war still comes right after deemno.

  6. Hien huet eng déck Plaz an deemno och eng déck Pai.

    He has a big job and a big salary to match.

    Here deemno means to match, correspondingly.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the subject right after dowéinst.

    Ech hat eng ustrengend Woch, dowéinst ech muss schlofen.
    Ech hat eng ustrengend Woch, dowéinst muss ech schlofen.

    Dowéinst takes the first place, so the verb muss comes next and the subject ech follows it.

  • Sending the verb to the end, as after well.

    Et huet gereent, deemno manner Leit op der Kiermes waren.
    Et huet gereent, deemno ware manner Leit op der Kiermes.

    Deemno is an adverb, not a conjunction like well, so the verb comes second, not last.

  • Using wéinst as a conjunction.

    Wéinst ech krank sinn, bleiwen ech doheem.
    Ech si krank, dowéinst bleiwen ech doheem.

    Wéinst is a preposition and needs a noun: wéinst menger Erkältung. To connect two clauses, use dowéinst or well.

How It Connects

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

dowéinst / deemnoLevel 4Because of That: Dowéinst and Deemno

Learn This First

Before Because of That: Dowéinst and Deemno, learn That's Why: Dofir and Also and Because Of, Despite, During.

Words in This Pattern

dowéinstdeemno