firwat
Why: Firwat
Firwat means why: Firwat bass du midd? (Why are you tired?).
How It Works
Word order
Firwat works like the other question words: firwat, then the conjugated verb, then the subject.
- Firwat bass du midd? (Why are you tired?)
- Firwat léiers du Lëtzebuergesch? (Why are you learning Luxembourgish?)
- Firwat kënnt hien net? (Why isn’t he coming?)
Answering with well
An answer often starts with well (because). After well the conjugated verb goes to the end: Firwat bleifs du doheem? – Well ech krank sinn.
Why and what for
Firwat can also ask about a purpose: Firwat fiers du muer op Paräis? (Why, or what for, are you going to Paris tomorrow?).
Firwat net?
On its own, Firwat net? means Why not?
Another word for why
In everyday speech you will also hear wisou or wéisou. They are used in the same way: Wisou ass de Buttek zou?
Examples (6)
- Firwat bass du midd?
Why are you tired?
Word by Word: Why are you tired?
The verb bass comes right after firwat.
- Firwat léiers du Lëtzebuergesch?
Why are you learning Luxembourgish?
Word by Word: Why learn you Luxembourgish?
- Firwat kënnt hien net?
Why isn’t he coming?
Word by Word: Why comes he not?
Net comes at the end of this short question.
- Firwat bleifs du doheem? – Well ech krank sinn.
Why are you staying at home? – Because I am ill.
Word by Word: Why stay you at home? – Because I ill am.
In the answer, well sends the verb sinn to the end.
- Firwat net?
Why not?
Word by Word: Why not?
- Wisou ass de Buttek zou?
Why is the shop closed?
Word by Word: Why is the shop closed?
Wisou is an everyday word with the same meaning as firwat.
Common Mistakes
Putting the subject before the verb after firwat.
Firwat du bass midd?Firwat bass du midd?In a direct question the conjugated verb comes right after the question word, before the subject.
Keeping the verb in second place after well.
Well ech sinn krank.Well ech krank sinn.Well starts a clause that gives a reason, and in that clause the conjugated verb goes to the end.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Why: Firwat, learn What and Who: Wat and Wien.
Related Patterns
- wellBecause: Well
Well (because) is the usual way to answer a firwat question.
Level 2 - wéiniWhen: Wéini
Wéini asks when and uses the same word order as firwat.
Level 1 - The Verb at the End of Subordinate Clauses
This rule explains why the verb goes last after well.
Level 2 - dofir / alsoThat's Why: Dofir and Also
Dofir (that is why) states the result that firwat asks about.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice firwat in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Luxembourgish lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
