porque
Lemma Details
Translation: because; since; as; for
Part of Speech: conjunction
Etymology: Derived from the Latin 'pro quid' meaning 'for what reason'. It evolved through Vulgar Latin into Spanish as 'porque'. The English cognate 'for' (when used as a conjunction to mean 'because') shares a similar logical function, though they have different etymological roots.
Commonality: 95%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think 'por + que' = 'for what reason' = 'because'
- Remember that 'porque' (because) answers the question 'por qué' (why)
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This is one of the most fundamental conjunctions in Spanish, used in everyday speech and writing across all Spanish-speaking countries. It's one of the first connecting words learned by Spanish students.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Porque' (one word) means 'because', while 'por qué' (two words with an accent) means 'why' and is used in questions or indirect questions.
Notes: Spanish has four forms that sound similar: 'porque' (because), 'por qué' (why), 'por que' (for which), and 'porqué' (reason).
Mnemonic: 'Por qué' has a question mark in its meaning (why?), which is reflected in the accent mark on the 'é'.
Explanation: 'Porque' introduces a cause or reason, while 'para que' introduces a purpose or goal and is followed by the subjunctive.
This word:
Llegué tarde porque había mucho tráfico.
I arrived late because there was a lot of traffic.
Notes: 'Para que' always requires the subjunctive mood in the following verb, while 'porque' does not.
Mnemonic: 'Para que' points to the future purpose (para = for), while 'porque' points to the past reason.