poiché

Poiché is an Italian subordinating conjunction used to introduce a causal clause, meaning "since," "as," or "because." It signals the reason for the action in the main clause and is most common in formal or written Italian. In everyday speech it is often replaced by phrases such as dato che, visto che, dal momento che, or perché.

Grammatical use: poiché governs a clause in the indicative mood, reflecting a factual cause. For example: Poiché piove, restiamo a casa. The subordinate clause typically comes before the main clause, separated by a comma, and the structure can also place poiché after the main clause with a comma: Restiamo a casa, poiché piove. It is not usually used with the subjunctive to express hypothetical or uncertain causes; for such purposes speakers may choose other constructions or verbs.

Etymology and history: poiché derives from a fusion of poi (then) and ché (that), which over time coalesced into a single word. In older Italian texts the form poichè is sometimes encountered, but modern standard usage is poiché.

Nuance and synonyms: while poiché and perché can both translate to "because," poiché tends to be more formal or literary. Alternatives like dato che, visto che, or dal momento che are common in everyday language and often carry a similar meaning. Poiché is favored when the cause is presented as established or part of a reasoned argument, particularly in written narratives, essays, and news reporting.