why

Primarily an interrogative and relative adverb, or subordinating conjunction, used to ask about or refer to reason, purpose, or cause. Note: 'Why' is not classified as a determiner in modern English grammar. It does not modify nouns directly but functions to introduce questions about reasons, relative clauses referring to cause, or causal adverbial clauses. This entry includes its primary adverbial and conjunctive meanings for completeness.

ptAdvérbio interrogativo ou relativo, e também conjunção subordinativa usada para indicar causa, motivo, propósito ou razão. Observação: "why" não é classificado como determinante no inglês moderno, funcionando como advérbio ou conjunção.ruВопросительное или относительное наречие, а также подчинительный союз для ссылки на причину, цель или основание. Примечание: 'Why' не классифицируется как определитель в современном английском языке, а функционирует как наречие или союз.esAdverbio interrogativo o relativo, así como conjunción subordinante, usado para referirse a la causa, el propósito o la razón de algo. Nota: 'Why' no se clasifica como determinante en inglés moderno, sino que funciona como adverbio o conjunción.frAdverbe interrogatif ou relatif, ainsi que conjonction de subordination, servant à interroger ou à introduire une proposition exprimant la cause, le but ou la raison. Remarque : en anglais moderne, 'why' n'est pas classé comme déterminant, mais fonctionne comme adverbe ou conjonction.deFrage- oder Relativadverb sowie subordinierende Konjunktion, die nach Grund, Zweck oder Ursache fragt. Hinweis: 'Why' ist im modernen Englischen kein Determiner, sondern fungiert als Adverb oder Konjunktion.zh疑问或关系副词，也用作从属连词，表示原因、目的或理由。注意：'why'在现代英语中并非限定词，而是副词或连词。arأداة استفهام أو اسم موصول أو حرف ربط للدلالة على السبب أو الغرض أو العلة. ملاحظة: 'Why' لا يُصنَّف في الإنجليزية الحديثة كمُحدِّد، بل يعمل ظرفًا أو حرف ربط.

1. Interrogative adverb (reason) A1 formal

   Used in questions to ask for the reason, cause, or purpose behind an action, event, or situation.

   • Why did you leave early?
   • Why is the sky blue?
   • Why are you laughing?

   ptAdvérbio interrogativo (causa)ruВопросительное наречие (причина)espor qué (interrogativo de causa)frpourquoi (adverbe interrogatif)deInterrogativadverb (Grund)zh疑问副词（原因）arظرف استفهام (السبب)

2. Relative adverb (reason reference) B1 formal

   Used to introduce a relative clause that refers to a reason or cause mentioned previously, often following nouns like 'reason'. It connects the clause to a cause-related antecedent.

   • That is the reason why I called you.
   • I don't know the reason why he quit.
   • Tell me the reason why you disagree.

   ptAdvérbio relativo (referência a motivo)ruОтносительное наречие (ссылка на причину)esadverbio relativo de razónfroù (relatif de cause)deRelativadverb (Grundverweis)zh关系副词（原因指代）arظرف موصول (الإشارة إلى السبب)

3. Subordinating conjunction (causal clause) B2 informal

   Used to introduce an adverbial clause expressing cause or reason, often equivalent to 'because' or 'since' in informal usage.

   • I stayed home, why I missed the meeting.
   • He was late, why he apologized.
   • She didn't study, why she failed the test.

   ptConjunção subordinativa causalruПодчинительный союз (причинное придаточное)espor qué / porque (conjunción causal)frpourquoi (conjonction de subordination causale)deUnterordnende Konjunktion (Kausalsatz)zh从属连词（原因状语从句）arحرف ربط سببي

4. Exclamatory or rhetorical use B1 informal

   Used in exclamations or rhetorical questions to express surprise, disbelief, or emphasis regarding a situation, often without expecting an answer.

   • Why, I never expected to see you here!
   • Why bother asking if you won't listen?
   • Why on earth would you do that?

   ptUso exclamativo ou retóricoruВосклицательное или риторическое использованиеesUso exclamativo o retóricofrQue (valeur exclamative ou rhétorique)deAusrufender oder rhetorischer Gebrauchzh感叹或反问用法arاستخدام تعجبي أو بلاغي

A noun referring to the cause, reason, or intention underlying an action or situation, often used in the phrase 'the whys and wherefores'.

ptSubstantivo que designa a causa, o motivo ou a razão de uma ação ou situação; também se usa na expressão «razões e circunstâncias».ruСуществительное, обозначающее причину, основание или намерение, лежащее в основе действия или ситуации, часто используется во фразе «причины и обстоятельства».esSustantivo que designa la causa, razón o intención que subyace a una acción o situación, frecuentemente usado en expresiones como «el porqué y el para qué».frNom désignant la cause, la raison ou l'intention qui sous-tend une action ou une situation, souvent utilisé dans l'expression « le pourquoi et le comment » ou « les tenants et les aboutissants ».deSubstantiv, das den Grund, die Ursache oder die Absicht bezeichnet, die einer Handlung oder Situation zugrunde liegt; wird oft in der Wendung „das Warum und Wieso“ verwendet.zh名词，表示原因、理由或动机，即导致某个行动或情况发生的根据；常用于「原因和理由」「为什么」等表达中。arاسم يُستعمل للدلالة على السبب أو العلة أو الدافع أو الغرض الكامن وراء فعل أو حالة، ويشيع في عبارات مثل «الأسباب والظروف».

1. Reason or explanation B2 formal

   The cause, reason, or explanation for something, often used in the phrase 'the whys and wherefores'.

   • We need to understand the whys and wherefores of the decision.
   • She explained the whys behind her actions.
   • The report details the whys and wherefores of the project's failure.

   ptRazãoruПричинаesrazón o explicaciónfrPourquoi (substantif)deGrundzh原因arالسبب

   Sinônimos: accountbasiscauseexplanationjustificationmotiverationalereason

• whys plural form
• whys' possessive plural form
• why's possessive singular form