English

Etymology

Middle English bi cause ("by cause"), a calque of French par cause ; by + cause. In Middle English, it was frequently followed by a subordinate clause introduced by that or why.

• By < Middle English bi < Old English bī < Proto-Germanic *bi (around, about) < *umbi < Proto-Indo-European *ambhi (around).
• Cause < Middle English < from Latin causa (a cause, a reason, motive, pretext, a case at law, lawsuit, claim), of unknown origin.

Conjunction

because

1. By or for the cause that; on this account that; for the reason that.

   I hid myself because I was afraid.

Synonyms

• therefore
• since (note : this word, contrary to because, has several meanings)
• for (note : this word, contrary to because, has several meanings)
• as
• inasmuch as

Usage note

These particles are used, in certain connections, to assign the reason of a thing, or that on account of, which it is or takes place. Because (by cause) is the strongest and most emphatic; as, I hid myself because I was afraid. For is not quite so strong; as, in Shakespeare, I hate him, for he is a Christian. Since is less formal and more incidental than because; as, I will do it since you request me. It more commonly begins a sentence; as, Since your decision is made, I will say no more. As is still more incidental than since, and points to some existing fact by way of assigning a reason. Thus we say, as I knew him to be out of town, I did not call. Inasmuch as seems to carry with it a kind of qualification which does not belong to the rest. Thus, if we say, I am ready to accept your proposal, inasmuch as I believe it is the best you can offer, we mean, it is only with this understanding that we can accept it.

Translations

• Arabic: بِسَبَب (bi-sábab)
• Breton: peogwir , abalamour ma, en abeg ma, rak ma
• Bulgarian: защото (zaštoto), тъй като (təj kato), понеже (poneže)
• Catalan: perquè , ja que , car, puix , puix que
• Chinese: 因为 (yīnwèi), 由于 (yóuyú)
• Czech: protože
• Dutch: omdat , aangezien , daar (formal)
• Esperanto: cxar
• Finnish: koska, sillä
• French: parce que, car, en raison Note: of these, only parce que is common in spoken French.
• Frisian: meidat , omdat
• German: weil , denn, da
• Greek (Ancient): διότι (dióti)
• Hebrew: כי (ki); בגלל (biglál)
• Hungarian: mert
• Icelandic: vegna þess
• Indonesian: karena , sebab
• Italian: perché
• Japanese: なぜなら (názenara), だって (datte)
• Pitjantjatjara: -nguru , -languru , panya
• Polish: bo, ponieważ
• Portuguese: porque
• Romanian: pentru că , din cauză că , datorită
• Russian: потому что (potomú što), так как (ták kak), поскольку (poskól'ku), ведь (ved'), ибо (íbo)
• Spanish: porque , ya que
• Swedish: därför att , eftersom

Related Words

• why
• because of (prepositional phrase)