hvorfor

Hvorfor is the Norwegian word for "why." It functions as an interrogative adverb and as a coordinating or subordinating element when asking for reasons, causes, or explanations. In direct questions, it appears at the beginning of the clause: Hvorfor er du her? In indirect or reported questions, it can introduce a clause within a sentence: Jeg vet ikke hvorfor han dro.

The word is commonly described as a compound of two parts: hvor, meaning "where" or "how," and for, meaning "for what reason." This structure is cognate with related forms in other Scandinavian languages, such as Danish hvorfor and Swedish varför, which serve the same function. Historically, the development of these forms traces back to the Germanic roots that underlie the question words in the region.

Usage notes include that hvorfor can introduce a full clause without an additional conjunction in Norwegian: Jeg forstår ikke hvorfor han gjorde det. In some stylistic contexts, speakers may prefer alternative constructions such as årsaken til at han dro (the reason that he left) rather than til hvorfor. Despite such preferences, hvorfor remains the standard and most common way to ask for a reason in everyday Norwegian, education, journalism, and formal writing.

In summary, hvorfor is a core interrogative in Norwegian used to seek explanations, with direct and indirect question applications and regional usage patterns similar to related Scandinavian languages.