Porque vs Por qué vs Porqué vs Por que
In Spanish,porque,por qué,porqué, andpor queare 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
Porqueis aconjunctionthat means“because.”It is used to give a reason or explanation.
2. Por qué
Por quéis used to ask“why.”It is a combination of the prepositionporand the question wordqué.
There are two main types of questions where you usepor qué:
a. Direct questions
b. Indirect questions
3. Porqué
Porquéis anounthat 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).
4. Por que
Por queis the least common form and usually appears in more formal or written Spanish. It is a combination of the prepositionporand the relative pronounque(that, which, who).
It can often be replaced byporquewithout changing the meaning, but it is used in specific grammatical constructions, such as:
a. After certain verbs, nouns, or adjectives
b. In clauses meaning “for which” or “because of which”
Summary
Understanding these differences will help you useporque,por qué,porqué, andpor quecorrectly in Spanish.
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Last updated: Thu Jul 17, 2025