perqué

Why

Level 1

Perqué asks why; perque means because.

How It Works

WordMeaningExample
perquéwhyPerqué manjas pas?
perquebecausePerque ai pas fam.

A question with perqué starts with the word and then has the usual verb: Perqué vas a Albi? For a negative question, put pas after the verb: Perqué manjas pas?

The answer starts with perque: Perque ai pas fam. (Because I am not hungry.) The two words differ only by the stress: perqué is stressed on the last vowel.

Catalan writes because as perquè, with a grave accent. In Occitan write perqué for why and perque for because. A one-word question also works: Perqué? (Why?)

Examples (4)

  1. Perqué vas a Albi?

    Why are you going to Albi?

    Perqué asks for a reason.

  2. Perqué manjas pas?

    Why don't you eat?

    Pas follows manjas.

  3. Rèsti a l'ostal perque plòu.

    I am staying home because it is raining.

    Perque, with no accent, gives the reason.

  4. Perque ai pas fam.

    Because I am not hungry.

    A short answer can start with perque.

Common Mistakes

  • Dropping the accent in a question.

    Perque vas a Albi?
    Perqué vas a Albi?

    Without the accent the word means because, so a question needs perqué.

  • Writing the Catalan accent.

    Rèsti a l'ostal perquè plòu.
    Rèsti a l'ostal perque plòu.

    Occitan writes because as perque, with no accent.

How It Connects

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

perquéLevel 1Why

Learn This First

Perqué follows the same pattern as qué, so qué comes first.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

perquéperque