Spanish uses four forms—porque, por qué, porqué, and por que—each serving a distinct function. This short guide explains when to use each one with clear examples.
Porque (because)
Use porque to introduce a reason and answer questions like “why?” It joins clauses when giving an explanation.
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I didn't go to the party because I was sick.
Por qué (why)
Use por qué in questions to ask for a reason. It appears in direct and indirect questions when you want to know why something happened.
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Porqué (the reason)
Use porqué as a noun meaning “the reason.” It is preceded by a definite article or other determiners and can be replaced by motivo.
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Por que (for which / that)
Use por que when por and que come from different parts of the sentence—often por is a preposition and que introduces a clause. It appears in expressions like luchar por que or when an article separates them.
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Summary
Remember: use porque for reasons, por qué for questions, porqué as a noun meaning “reason,” and por que when por and que belong to different parts of the sentence.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025