How do you say 'why' in Spanish?

In questions, 'why' is translated as por qué — always two words with an accent mark on the e of qué.

Why are there four ways to write por qué in Spanish?

Spanish distinguishes the interrogative por qué (why), the conjunction porque (because), the noun porqué (the reason), and the relative construction por que (for which) based on spelling and accent rules.

Do I always need the inverted question mark with por qué?

In formal written Spanish the inverted question mark ¿ is required at the start of every question, including those beginning with por qué, although it is sometimes dropped in casual texting.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

Why in Spanish: Por Qué

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Por Qué · adverb · por KEH

The English question word 'why' translates to por qué in Spanish. Written as two separate words with an accent on qué, it introduces questions that ask for a cause or reason. Learners frequently confuse it with its homophones porque, porqué, and por que.

Say por KEH, with a clear stress on the second syllable of qué.

¿Por qué llegaste tarde?

Why did you arrive late?

Why in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for why, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
por qué	why	por KEH	Default, widely understood
porque	why		as 'because' in answers
porqué	why		as a noun meaning 'the reason'

How Native Speakers Use Por Qué

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Everyday question

¿Por qué no contestas el teléfono?

Why don't you answer the phone?

Frustrated after calling someone multiple times.

Philosophical wonder

¿Por qué existe el sufrimiento en el mundo?

Why does suffering exist in the world?

Reflecting on a deep philosophical topic.

Giving the reason

No fui porque estaba enfermo.

I didn't go because I was sick.

Answering a 'why' question with porque (because).

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Por Qué

Merging into one word

Incorrect: ¿Porqué no comes?

Correct: ¿Por qué no comes?

In questions, 'why' must be written as two words (por qué). The single word porqué is a noun meaning 'the reason.'

Using porque in a question

Incorrect: ¿Porque sales tan temprano?

Correct: ¿Por qué sales tan temprano?

Porque without the accent is the conjunction 'because' and cannot begin a question asking for a reason.

Lock in Why Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Por Qué used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using por qué in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear ¿Por qué llegaste tarde? while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About Why in Spanish

How do you say 'why' in Spanish?: In questions, 'why' is translated as por qué — always two words with an accent mark on the e of qué.
Why are there four ways to write por qué in Spanish?: Spanish distinguishes the interrogative por qué (why), the conjunction porque (because), the noun porqué (the reason), and the relative construction por que (for which) based on spelling and accent rules.
Do I always need the inverted question mark with por qué?: In formal written Spanish the inverted question mark ¿ is required at the start of every question, including those beginning with por qué, although it is sometimes dropped in casual texting.