warum

why

adverb va-RUM Less Common

Usage Note

warum asks for a reason and triggers verb-final word order in indirect questions: Ich weiß nicht, warum er geht ('I don't know why he is leaving'). Common synonyms are weshalb and wieso, the latter being more colloquial.

Examples

"Warum bist du so spät?"

Natural Translation

Why are you so late?

Literal Translation

Why are you so late?

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