why
gb/wˈaɪ/ us/wˈaɪ/
A1
English
~ 200
miért, hát, nahát, ok, indok, valaminek a miértje
A1
1
miért
A1
Usage pattern:
why [auxiliary verb] [subject] [verb]?
Why did you leave so early?
Miért mentél el ilyen korán?
Why is the sky blue?
Miért kék az ég?
Why are you upset about this?
Why should we trust them?
Why is he always late?
Learner examples
Why is she happy?
Miért boldog?
Why do you like cats?
Miért szereted a macskákat?
Why are they here?
Why is it cold today?
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'why' with 'how' when asking about the manner of something instead of the reason.
Meaning
for what reason or purpose
Collocations
why not
|why bother
|why is that
Synonyms
how come (Informal equivalent often used in spoken English; less formal than 'why'.)
Antonyms
because (Provides the answer to a 'why' question, expressing cause or reason.)
Themes
communication
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Used to ask the reason for something.
Used to ask about the reason for something or the purpose behind it.
B1
2
Why, I didn’t expect to see you here!
Nahát, nem számítottam rá, hogy itt látlak!
Why, that’s exactly what I was thinking.
Hát, ez pontosan az, amire én is gondoltam.
Why, that’s not fair at all!
Learner examples
Why, you are here!
Nahát, itt vagy!
Why, that is strange.
Hát, ez furcsa.
Why, I did not know that.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the question word 'why' rather than recognizing it as an exclamation.
Meaning
expression of surprise or protest
Collocations
Why, that’s amazing!
|Why, I never!
Synonyms
well (Similar in expressing mild surprise or reaction, but broader in use.)
Themes
emotions
|communication
Definition
Said when you are surprised or do not agree.
Used to express mild surprise, disbelief, or protest.
NOUN
B2
3
Usage pattern:
the why of [something]
I don’t understand the why behind his actions.
Nem értem a tettei mögött meghúzódó okot.
The teacher explained the why and how of the experiment.
A tanár elmagyarázta a kísérlet miértjét és hogyanját.
She never told me the why of her decision.
Learner examples
I know the why of his choice.
Ismerem a döntése okát.
Tell me the why of this rule.
Mondd el, mi az oka ennek a szabálynak.
We learned the why and how in class.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this noun form; in many cases 'reason' is more natural.
Meaning
reason or explanation for something
Collocations
the whys and wherefores
|no why given
Synonyms
reason (More common and general term for an explanation.)
Antonyms
result (Focuses on the outcome rather than the cause.)
Themes
communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The reason something happens or is done.
The reason or explanation for something.
Grammar
Dictionary form
why
IPA
GB/wˈaɪ/
US/wˈaɪ/
Syllables & stress
why (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (why)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: why
- Plural: whies
Word family
Forms
whies
noun
Related words
explain
verb A2
explanation
noun A2
Expressions
the whys and wherefores
1/ðə wˈaɪz ˈænd wˈɛɹəfˈɔɹz/
fixed phrase
reasons and explanations for something
The reasons and explanations for something.
Examples
- He explained the whys and wherefores of his plan.
- She didn’t care about the whys and wherefores; she just wanted results.
why bother
1/wˈaɪ bˈɑðɚ/
fixed phrase
informal
questioning if effort is worth it
Used when you think doing something is not worth the effort.
Examples
- It’s going to rain all day, so why bother cleaning the car?
- Nobody listens to him, so why bother talking?
why not
1/wˈaɪ nˈɑt/
fixed phrase
suggesting acceptance or possibility
Used to suggest that something is a good idea or there is no reason against it.
Examples
- "Let’s go to the park." "Why not?"
- You could apply for the job—why not?