Asking why: Por que and Porque Simplified

LÉO: Por que você está com pressa? (Why are you in a hurry?)
CLARA: Porque tenho uma reunião importante. (Because I have an important meeting.)

This is a simple rule, yet I frequently see por que and porque used in the wrong way. Keep this in mind:

Por que is used to ask questions. It corresponds to why in the English language.
Porque is used to answer why questions. It is the same as because.

Let’s see another example:

DANI: Por que você está tão animada? (Why are you so excited?)
MATT: Porque vou passar férias no Brasil. (Because I am going to spend vacation in Brazil).

Is that all that is to Por que and Porque? Well, there is one more thing: When used alone or at the end of the sentence, por que and porque have a circumflex accent:

LAURA: Estou preocupada.
BILL: Por quê?

And there is also porquê, which is a noun and means razão (reason):

CAROL: Eu sei o porquê da sua alegria. (I know the reason you are happy.)

Yes, Portuguese has its complexities, but nothing that could prevent us from making it fun and simple!

Check out our video lesson on How to Use Porque and Por Causa de.

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