Porque es importante.
Because it's important.
The little boy asks why his father has to leave. His question uses two words, por qué, and the answer begins with one: porque.
From El padrino (parte II) · Spanish audio
Spanish vocabularyA1 · Beginner
How to say "because" in Spanish
porque
conjunctionone wordno written accent
"Because" in Spanish is porque: one word, no accent, stressed on the first syllable (POR-keh). The question "why?" is two words with an accent, ¿por qué?, and the answer comes back as one: Porque es importante.
Hear "porque" in real movie scenes
A child's question and a boss's answer. Each video starts and stops on that line.
Porque trabajas para mí.
Because you work for me.
The boss explains why he got angry. Like because in English, porque is followed by a full sentence with its own verb.
From Suits · Spanish audio
Porque, por qué and other reason words
The first two look almost the same. The rest help you vary your answers.
| Spanish | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| porque | because | Porque es importante. (Because it's important.) |
| ¿por qué? | why? | ¿Por qué estudias? (Why are you studying?) |
| el porqué | the reason why | No entiendo el porqué. (I don't understand the reason.) |
| como | since, as | Como llueve, no salgo. (Since it's raining, I'm not going out.) |
| ya que | since, given that | Ya que estás aquí, ayúdame. (Since you're here, help me.) |
| es que | the thing is | Es que no tengo tiempo. (The thing is, I don't have time.) |
Tip: Quick check: if the word means why, write two words with an accent. If it means because, write one word without.
Grammar: porque and por qué
Four points that keep the two apart.
One word, no accent
porque gives a reason. The stress is on por, but the word never carries a written accent.Two words, with an accent
¿Por qué? asks for the reason. It keeps the accent inside a longer sentence too: No sé por qué.A verb comes next
Porque opens a whole clause with its own verb: Porque estudio en la universidad.Because of: por
Before a noun, use por or a causa de: No salgo por la lluvia. I'm not going out because of the rain.Example sentences
Sentences from the Wordy Spanish course. Tap to listen.
Porque trabajo en España.
Because I work in Spain.
Porque el paisaje es precioso.
Because the view is beautiful.
Porque estudio en la universidad.
Because I'm studying at the university.
¿Por qué siempre estudias?
Why are you always studying?
Common mistakes
Mistakes learners make with this word, and how to fix them.
✗¿Porque estudias español?
✓¿Por qué estudias español?
When you ask why, split it into two words and put the accent on qué.
✗Por qué trabajo en España. (as an answer)
✓Porque trabajo en España.
The answer joins into one word and loses the accent mark.
✗porque la lluvia (meaning because of the rain)
✓por la lluvia
Porque needs a verb after it. In front of a noun on its own, use por.
Practice: 3 quick exercises
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1 of 3 · Watch and choose
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How to remember it
A question leaves things open, so ¿por qué? stays in two pieces. The answer closes it, so porque joins into one word.
Questions about "because" in Spanish
How do you say because in Spanish?
Porque, written as one word with no accent: Porque trabajas para mí.
What's the difference between porque and por qué?
Por qué means why and asks the question. Porque means because and gives the answer: ¿Por qué estudias? Porque tengo un examen.
How do you say "because of" in Spanish?
Use por or a causa de before a noun: por el trabajo, a causa de la lluvia.
How do you say "just because" in Spanish?
Porque sí. Like the English phrase, it ends the discussion without giving a reason.
