weswegen

Weswegen is a German interrogative and relative adverb meaning “for what reason” or “why.” It is primarily used in formal written language and in careful speech, and it can introduce subordinate clauses: Ich weiß nicht, weswegen er hier ist.

In terms of grammar, weswegen functions as a conjunction that introduces causal subordinate clauses and expresses the reason behind an action or situation. It is closely related to other formal question words such as weshalb and war, and it often appears in journalism, academic writing, and literary prose. In everyday spoken German, speakers more commonly use warum or wieso, making weswegen sound more formal or literary.

Etymology and related forms: Weswegen belongs to a family of words built from the preposition wegen (“because of”) combined with a fused interrogative element. Related forms include weshalb and wieso; all share the general sense of asking for a reason rather than providing one. The choice among these words depends on register, tone, and the speaker’s preference.

Usage notes: Weswegen is typically found in subordinate clauses after verbs of thinking, perceiving, or explaining, and it can also appear in questions about cause. It is suitable for written reports, essays, and formal dialogue.

Examples:

- Ich weiß nicht, weswegen er so spät gekommen ist.

- Weswegen ist das System heute ausgefallen?

- Weswegen hast du das gemacht? (more formal than Warum hast du das gemacht?)

See also: weshalb, wieso, warum, weshalb.