Miért

Miért is a Hungarian interrogative word meaning “for what reason” or “why.” It is used to inquire about causes, motives, or explanations for actions, statements, or events. In direct questions, it typically appears at the beginning of the clause: “Miért nem jöttél?” It can also occur in mid-sentence in indirect questions: “Azt kérdezték, miért történt ez.”

Etymology and grammar: The form “miért” is built from the interrogative pronoun “mi” (what) plus the postpositional suffix “-ért” meaning “for” or “for the sake of.” Accordingly, “miért” belongs to the class of Hungarian question words that express reason or purpose. The word can combine with various tenses and moods; Hungarian word order is relatively flexible, but in direct questions the verb often follows the “miért” phrase, and the clause typically ends with a question intonation in speech. The negated form is “miért nem” (“why not?”).

Usage and alternatives: In everyday language, “miért” is the standard choice for asking about reasons. In more formal or stylistically varied contexts, phrases such as “mi okból” or “mi célból” may be used to mean “for what reason.” “Miért” is common across registers and is employed to seek justification, motive, or rationale behind actions or statements.