бидејќи / затоа што
Giving a Reason
Затоа што and бидејќи both mean “because”: Не дојдов затоа што бев болен (I did not come because I was sick).
How It Works
Затоа што. This is the everyday word for “because”. It usually follows what it explains, and it is the normal short answer to a зошто question (see question words): — Зошто доцниш? — Затоа што немаше автобус. Keep both words: затоа alone means “that is why, so”, which is covered in drawing a conclusion.
Бидејќи. This word is a little more formal and very often opens the sentence, with a comma after the reason: Бидејќи врнеше, останавме дома. It can also follow the main clause: Го купив станот бидејќи е блиску до работата.
Clause, not noun. Both words introduce a full clause with a verb. Before a noun, use поради: Не дојдов поради дождот.
Colloquial оти. In speech many people use оти for “because”: see оти and дека.
Examples (5)
- Не дојдов затоа што бев болен.
I did not come because I was sick.
Word by Word: Not came-I for-that that was-I sick.
Затоа што follows the main clause.
- Бидејќи врнеше, останавме дома.
Since it was raining, we stayed at home.
Бидејќи opens the sentence, and a comma follows the reason.
- — Зошто учиш македонски? — Затоа што жена ми е од Битола.
"Why are you learning Macedonian?" "Because my wife is from Bitola."
Затоа што is the usual answer to зошто.
- Го купив станот бидејќи е блиску до работата.
I bought the flat because it is close to work.
Бидејќи can also follow the main clause.
- Бидејќи немаше автобус, отидовме пешки.
Since there was no bus, we went on foot.
The reason comes first to set the scene.
Common Mistakes
Dropping што from затоа што.
Не дојдов затоа бев болен.Не дојдов затоа што бев болен.Затоа alone means that is why. To introduce a reason you need both words: затоа што.
Using поради before a clause.
Не дојдов поради бев болен.Не дојдов затоа што бев болен.Поради goes before a noun, as in поради болеста. Before a clause with a verb, use затоа што or бидејќи.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Giving a reason answers зошто.
Related Patterns
- поради / зарадиBecause of
Gives a reason with a noun instead of a clause.
Level 3 - значи / затоа / според тоаDrawing a Conclusion
Затоа alone draws a conclusion: that is why.
Level 5 - оти / декаОти and Дека
Оти is a colloquial word for because.
Level 5 - иакоAlthough
Иако gives a contrast rather than a reason.
Level 3 - за даPurpose with За Да
За да gives a purpose rather than a reason.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice бидејќи / затоа што in Bubblegum
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