warum

German

Etymology

From Middle High German wārumbe, wārumme, from Old High German wār umbe. Equivalent to wo (“where”) +‎ um (“about, around, at”), thus originally “about what”. Doublet of worum, but with the older vocalism preserved. Compare Dutch waarom, which has both meanings.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /vaˈʁʊm/ (usual)
• IPA^(key): /ˈvaː.ʁʊm/ (never in isolation, but sometimes triggered by the intonation of a sentence)
• Rhymes: -ʊm

Adverb

warum

1. why; for what reason

See also

• weshalb
• weswegen
• wieso

Further reading

• “warum” in Duden online