por que

See also: porque, porqué, porquê, por qué, and por quê

Portuguese

Alternative forms
  • por quê (used in the end of sentences, or as a sentence of its own)
  • pq (Internet slang used as an abbreviation for 'por que' and all its variants)

Etymology

por +‎ que. Diachronically from Old Galician-Portuguese [Term?], from Vulgar Latin [Term?]; compare Spanish porque/por qué, French pourquoi, Italian perché.

Pronunciation
 
  • (Brazil) IPA(key): /ˈpoʁ ˈke/ [ˈpoh ˈke]
    • (São Paulo) IPA(key): /ˈpoɾ ˈke/
    • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA(key): /ˈpoʁ ˈke/ [ˈpoχ ˈke]
    • (Southern Brazil) IPA(key): /ˈpoɻ ˈke/

Adverb

por que (not comparable)

  1. (Brazil, introducing a question) why, what for, for what reason
    Synonym: (Portugal) porque
    Por que são os céus azuis?
    Why are the skies blue?
  2. (introducing a question, uncommon in Brazil) by what, through what, via what
    Por que caminho seguir?
    What way should we follow?
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