What Does Porque Mean

What’s up guys, you ok? In our Dica today, we are going to learn all about how to use the different versions of Porque in Portuguese. But, firstly, what does porque mean in English? Porque is equivalent to why in Portuguese, and in some situations, it is because in Portuguese. Porque is used to give explanations or ask for explanations in Portuguese. We have four different ways of using Porque in Portuguese.

Don’t worry! When you speak, there is no difference with the sound, it’s always the same. But when we write, we have to be more attentive. So we are going to learn step by step each one to avoid having any doubts in the future, ok?

So, let’s go!

What Does Porque Mean in Portuguese?

Use of POR QUE

Por que in Portuguese, when it’s two separate words and without an accent, is used at the beginning of direct interrogative sentences or in the middle of a sentence, in the case of indirect interrogative sentences. This would be the equivalent to why? (for what?) in Brazilian Portuguese.

Por que você não vai para a praia hoje?
Why aren’t you going to the beach today?

Por que o sol brilha tão forte?
Why does the sun shine so bright?

We can also use it to talk about a motive in the sentence. In this case, you can see that this por que in Portuguese is replaceable for pelo qual, pela qual and por qual (that are equivalent to for which reason).

Não sei por que você quer ficar em casa hoje.
I don’t know why you are going to stay at home today.

Não sei por qual motivo você quer ficar em casa hoje.
I don’t know why you are going to stay at home today.

Use of POR QUÊ

Another version of Porque in Portuguese that we are going to see here is POR QUÊ separated with circumflex accent or acento circunflexo (^), otherwise known as the little hat. We use this version when we need the why to come at the end of a sentence, or when it’s an isolated question.

Você não vai à  festa? Por quê?
Aren’t you going to the party? Why?

Elas querem estudar português por quê?
Why do they want to study portuguese?

Use of PORQUE

We have the porque together without any accents for when we want to give explanations. Can be replaced by words just as: “pois”, “para que” or “uma vez que”. It’s also the equivalent to because in Portuguese. Let’s see here some examples:

Ele vai viajar hoje, porque tem uma reunião em São Paulo, na segunda-feira.
He is travelling today because he has a meeting in São Paulo on Monday.

This PORQUE is together, it is giving an explanation about the reason why he is going to travel.

Eu não fui à festa porque estava estudando para o CELPE-Bras.
I didn’t go to the party because I was studying for CELPE-Bras.

This one is explaining why I didn’t go to the party, so we use porque together and without accents.

Use of PORQUÊ

And PORQUÊ together, with acento circunflexo, the little hat, is a noun. It is always with a definite or indefinite article, pronoun, adjective or numeral. Let’s see one example:

Só quero um porquê para visitar o Rio de Janeiro.
I just want a reason to visit Rio de Janeiro.

Ele entendeu o porquê dela estar chateada.
He understood the reason why she was upset.

What does porque mean again?

Now we are going to watch Professor Moisés explaining this subject. This is a good opportunity to practice what we have learned and our listening. Remember that you can set up the subtitles!

Now it’s your turn!

Now that you can use it properly, complete these sentences using the correct version of Porque in Portuguese:

1. Não sei ______________ você se foi.
2. Preciso de um ______________ para comprar algo tão caro.
3. João: ______________ você estuda Português?
   Maria: Eu estudo ______________ amo o Português.
4. Ela tem que fazer dieta ______________ quer ficar saudável.
5. Tem uma toalha molhada na cama. ______________ ?
6. Pedro vai te explicar o ______________ de tudo isso.
7. ______________ você quer trabalhar conosco?
8. Quero saber______________ ele saiu mais cedo.
9. Eles terminaram ______________ ele a traiu.
10. Entendo que você goste de pizza com ketchup mas, ______________ ?

So that’s it! Today we have learned what porque means in Portuguese. It’s more less the equivalent to why in Portuguese, or even because in Portuguese. Remember when you speak, there is no difference with the sound, only when written. If you text a Brazilian friend in Portuguese you’ll see that they use PQ as Porque. It’s internet slang so it’s an informal way of writing. It’s fine to do it when texting, but not in a formal text or exam. Beleza?

Well, we finish our Dica here. Thank you very much one more time!
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And we’ll see each other in our next Dica.
Big hug for all of you, see you next time!
Bye, bye!

           
Click on the links below to see more related Dicas
Interrogative Words in Portuguese
Interrogative sentences in Portuguese
Definite Articles in Portuguese
Indefinite Articles in Portuguese

Answers

1. Não sei por que você se foi.
2. Preciso de um porquê para comprar algo tão caro.
3. João: Por que você estuda Português
   Maria: Eu estudo porque amo o Português
4. Ela tem que fazer dieta porque quer ficar saudável.
5. Tem uma toalha molhada na cama. Por quê?
6. Pedro vai te explicar o porquê de tudo isso.
7. Por que você quer trabalhar conosco?
8. Quero saber por que ele saiu mais cedo.
9. Eles terminaram porque ele a traiu.
10. Entendo que você goste de pizza com ketchup mas, por quê?