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pourquoi

why

adverb poor-KWAH Common

Usage Note

Pourquoi literally fuses pour (for) and quoi (what) into 'for what', and answers pair it with parce que (because). Turned into a noun, le pourquoi means the reason, and le pourquoi du comment is a playful way to say the whys and wherefores.

Examples

"Pourquoi tu ris ?"

Natural Translation

Why are you laughing?

Literal Translation

Why you laugh?

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