Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'because'

English Word: because

Key Russian Translations:

• потому что [pɐˈtomu ʂto] - [Formal/Informal, Common in spoken and written language]
• из-за [ˈiz.zə] - [Formal/Informal, Often used to indicate cause related to a specific reason or person]
• так как [ˈtak kɐk] - [Formal, Often used in written or explanatory contexts]

Frequency: High (especially for "потому что")

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for "потому что"); B1 (Intermediate for "из-за" and "так как")

Pronunciation (Russian):

потому что: [pɐˈtomu ʂto]

Note on потому что: Stress falls on the second syllable of "потому". The "что" is often reduced in casual speech to sound like "шта".

из-за: [ˈiz.zə]

Note on из-за: The stress is on the first syllable. The "з" sounds may blend together in fast speech.

так как: [ˈtak kɐk]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Indicating a Reason or Cause (General)

Translation(s) & Context:

• потому что - Used in both formal and informal contexts to explain a reason or cause.
• так как - Primarily used in formal or written contexts to provide an explanation or justification.

Usage Examples:

• Я опоздал, потому что был пробка на дороге.

  I was late because there was a traffic jam on the road.

• Мы остались дома, потому что шёл сильный дождь.

  We stayed home because it was raining heavily.

• Так как проект был сложным, мы работали всю ночь.

  Because the project was complex, we worked all night.

2. Indicating Cause Due to a Specific Factor or Person

Translation(s) & Context:

• из-за - Used when attributing a cause to a specific factor, person, or event, often with a negative connotation.

Usage Examples:

• Мы опоздали из-за него.

  We were late because of him.

• Концерт отменили из-за плохой погоды.

  The concert was canceled because of bad weather.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

потому что: This is a conjunction and does not inflect. It remains unchanged regardless of context or sentence structure.

из-за: This is a preposition and does not inflect. It is always followed by a noun or pronoun in the genitive case.

так как: This is a conjunction and does not inflect. It remains unchanged in all contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for "потому что":

• так как
• поскольку

Note: "поскольку" is more formal and often used in academic or legal contexts compared to "потому что".

Antonyms: None directly applicable, as "because" and its translations are conjunctions/prepositions indicating causality.

Related Phrases:

• из-за того, что - "because of the fact that"; used for emphasis in formal or detailed explanations.
• по причине - "due to"; a formal alternative to "из-за".
• в связи с - "in connection with"; often used in formal contexts as a substitute for "из-за".

Usage Notes:

• "потому что" is the most versatile and commonly used translation for "because". It fits almost any context, whether spoken or written, formal or informal.
• "из-за" is used specifically when pointing to a direct cause, often with a negative implication (e.g., blaming someone or something). It requires the genitive case for the noun or pronoun that follows.
• "так как" is more formal and often appears in written texts or structured explanations. It can sometimes be replaced by "потому что" in casual speech.
• Be mindful of sentence structure: "потому что" and "так как" are conjunctions that connect clauses, while "из-за" is a preposition that connects to a noun or pronoun.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "из-за" with a full clause instead of a noun. Incorrect: *Мы опоздали из-за пробка была.* Correct: Мы опоздали из-за пробки. (Explanation: "из-за" must be followed by a noun in the genitive case, not a clause.)
• Error: Overusing "так как" in casual speech. Incorrect: *Я не пришёл, так как был занят.* Correct for casual speech: Я не пришёл, потому что был занят. (Explanation: "так как" sounds overly formal in everyday conversation.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, explanations using "потому что" are often seen as straightforward and neutral. However, using "из-за" to attribute blame (e.g., "из-за тебя" - "because of you") can sometimes carry a stronger emotional tone or accusation, depending on the context. Be cautious when using it in sensitive conversations.

Related Concepts:

• поэтому (therefore)
• вследствие (as a result of)
• из-за того, что (because of the fact that)