weshalb

German

Etymology

Cognate with Dutch weshalve (obsolete).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /vɛsˈhalp/, /ˈvɛshalp/

• Audio:

  (file)

Adverb

weshalb

1. (interrogative) why
2. (relative) which is why
   • 1966, Otfried Preußler, Das kleine Gespenst:

     Dar war nicht der einzige Grund, weshalb das kleine Gespenst den Schlüsselbund ständig mit sich herumtrug.

     That was not the only reason why the little ghost always carried the bunch of keys around with him.

See also

• warum
• weswegen
• wieso

Further reading

• “weshalb” in Duden online
• “weshalb” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache