Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'why'

English Word: why

Key Russian Translations:

• почему /pɐˈtɕemʲʊ/ - [Informal, Interrogative]

Frequency: High (commonly used in everyday conversations and questions)

Difficulty: A1 (beginner level, as it is a basic interrogative word)

Pronunciation (Russian):

почему: /pɐˈtɕemʲʊ/

Note on почему: The stress is on the second syllable; be careful with the soft 'ч' sound, which is palatalized. In fast speech, it may sound like /pɐˈtɕimʲʊ/ in some dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Interrogative adverb asking for the reason or cause

Translation(s) & Context:

• почему - Used in informal and formal questions to inquire about the reason behind an action or event, suitable for everyday dialogue.

Usage Examples:

• Почему ты не пришел на встречу? (Pochemu ty ne prishel na vstrechu?)

  Why didn't you come to the meeting?

• Почему небо синее? (Pochemu nebo sineye?)

  Why is the sky blue?

• Почему это так дорого? (Pochemu eto tak dorogo?)

  Why is this so expensive?

• Почему вы решили переехать? (Pochemu vy reshili pereekhat?)

  Why did you decide to move?

• Почему дождь идет так часто в Москве? (Pochemu dozhd idyot tak chasto v Moskve?)

  Why does it rain so often in Moscow?

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Почему is an invariable adverb in Russian, meaning it does not change form based on gender, number, case, or tense. It remains the same in all contexts.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: зачем (/zəˈʂemʲ/) - Used when asking about purpose rather than reason; отчего (/ɐtˈtɕɛvə/) - More formal, implying a cause.
• Antonyms: N/A (as "why" is interrogative and doesn't have direct antonyms, but related: потому что - because, for explanation)

Related Phrases:

• Почему нет? (Pochemu net?) - Why not? (Often used to express agreement or suggestion in casual conversation.)
• Из-за чего? (Iz-za chego?) - Because of what? (A more formal way to ask for the reason.)
• Почему именно? (Pochemu immenno?) - Why specifically? (Used to seek detailed reasons.)

Usage Notes:

Почему directly corresponds to the English "why" when asking for reasons, but it's most common in questions. It's versatile across formal and informal contexts, though in very polite or written Russian, you might see alternatives like "по какой причине" for emphasis. Always place it at the beginning of a question for natural flow. When choosing between translations, use "почему" for general inquiries and "зачем" if the focus is on purpose.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "почему" in statements instead of questions, e.g., saying "Я почему устал" (incorrectly implying "I why am tired").

  Correct: Почему я устал? (Why am I tired?)

  Explanation: Почему is strictly interrogative; for statements, use connectors like "потому что" (because).

• Error: Mispronouncing the soft 'ч' sound, often hardening it to sound like English "ch".

  Correct Pronunciation: /pɐˈtɕemʲʊ/ with a soft, palatalized 'ч'.

  Explanation: This can make the word sound unnatural to native speakers; practice with audio resources.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, asking "почему" frequently in conversations reflects a direct and inquisitive communication style, especially in educational or familial settings. It's common in Russian literature and media to use such questions to explore deeper philosophical or everyday reasons, emphasizing the value placed on understanding motivations.

Related Concepts:

• как (kak) - How
• когда (kogda) - When
• где (gde) - Where