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]

• (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/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /puɾ kɨ/

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?