In Spanish, porque, por qué, porqué, and por que are commonly confused because they sound the same but have different meanings and uses. Here’s a simple guide to help you understand and use each one correctly.
1. Porque
Porque is a conjunction that means “because.” It is used to give a reason or explanation.
| Spanish Example |
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| Estudio español porque me gusta viajar. |
| English Example |
2. Por qué
Por qué is used to ask “why.” It is a combination of the preposition por and the question word qué.
There are two main types of questions where you use por qué:
a. Direct questions
| Spanish Example |
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| ¿Por qué comes tan tarde? |
| English Example |
b. Indirect questions
| Spanish Example |
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| No sé por qué salió tan rápido. |
| English Example |
3. Porqué
Porqué is a noun that means “the reason.” It is often preceded by a definite article (el, un).
You can also use it in plural form: los porqués (the reasons).
| Spanish Example |
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| No entiendo el porqué de su decisión. |
| English Example |
4. Por que
Por que is the least common form and usually appears in more formal or written Spanish. It is a combination of the preposition por and the relative pronoun que (that, which, who).
It can often be replaced by porque without changing the meaning, but it is used in specific grammatical constructions, such as:
a. After certain verbs, nouns, or adjectives
| Spanish Example |
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| Lucho por que se haga justicia. |
| English Example |
b. In clauses meaning “for which” or “because of which”
| Spanish Example |
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| Este es el motivo por que no vine. |
| English Example |
Understanding these differences will help you use porque, por qué, porqué, and por que correctly in Spanish.
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Last updated: Thu Jul 17, 2025