To explain to a German-speaker why you did or said something, you need to let them know that it happened because of something else. Once you know this rule of communication, the next hurdle is learning the different words for “because” in German. While English just has the one term (because), the German language chooses to be a little more specific with two words for “because”: weil and denn. Learn what each word means and how to use it in practical situations, so you can sound like a pro.
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Understanding how to use ‘because’ in German grammar
So, how do you say “because” in German? Mastering the use of “because” in German grammar means you need to learn the difference between weil vs. denn. While both German words mean “because” and point to a reason, they affect sentence structure differently. While this can trip new learners up a bit, the contrasting sentence structure can make it easier to identify when to use one term over the other. Paying attention to these differences will help make German easy to learn!
When to use weil in German
Weil (pronounced like “vile”) is a subordinating German conjunction, meaning it connects a subordinate clause to a main clause. Imagine two parts of a sentence separated by a comma. The part of the sentence with the main verb in its usual position near the subject is typically the main clause of the sentence. The subordinate clause, however, will have the verb kicked to the end of the clause. Think of weil as a “verb kicker,” so any clause following weil will have its verb at the end.
See the following sentence examples for German sentences where weil introduces a subordinate clause with the verb at the end of the sentence:
- Ich wasche mir die Hände, weil sie schmutzig sind. = I am washing my hands because they are dirty.
- Ich trage einen Pullover, weil mir kalt ist. = I am wearing a sweater because I am cold.
Weil is the only word for ‘because’ in German that can start a sentence
Another helpful way to know if you should use weil is if the clause it introduces starts the sentence. While weil can introduce the second clause of a sentence, it is the only version of “because” in German that can introduce the first clause of an expression.
This sentence structure is usually practical to use when you’re answering a warum (why) question. Thanks to its versatility, weil is more commonly heard in daily spoken German than its counterpart denn.
Check out these sentences with weil at the beginning, something only weil can do out of the two German words for “because.”
- Warum riecht der Hund schlecht? = Why does the dog smell bad?
- Weil er schmutzig und nass ist. = Because he is dirty and wet.
- Warum sind die Leute im Wohnzimmer? = Why are there people in the living room?
- Weil sie fernsehen. = Because they are watching television.
How to use weil in a German sentence
You can use weil (because) at the start of a subordinate clause in a German sentence. It bridges two ideas: the main “clause” (or statement) and the reasoning behind it. Grammatically, the key to using weil is remembering that it’s a “verb kicker,” meaning that clauses introduced by weil move their verb to the very end. When weil isn’t at the start of the sentence, you’ll put a comma after the first clause, then follow it up with weil and your subordinate clause.
Take a look below as the clauses are adjusted with weil. Notice how weil is always at the start of whatever clause it’s in and how the main verb gets kicked to the end.
- Ich habe mich verlaufen → Weil ich mich verlaufen habe.
- I am lost. → Because I am lost.
- Sie freut sich. Sie haben Geburtstag. → Sie freut sich, weil sie Geburtstag hat.
- She is happy. It is her birthday. → She is happy because it is her birthday.
- Sie ärgert sich. Ihre Bluse ist schmutzig. → Sie ärgert sich, weil ihre Bluse schmutzig ist.
- She is angry. Her shirt is dirty. → She is angry because her shirt is dirty.
‘Because’ in German can also be denn
Your second option for “because” in German is denn. When you want to bridge two main clauses together, or if you notice both clauses have their verb in the usual spot near the subject rather than at the end of the clause, denn is the right choice. You’ll know if both clauses are main or independent clauses if they can stand alone as sentences and still make sense without each other.
Think of denn like a replacement for a period between two sentences when you want to emphasize that one of the sentences is “because” of the other. Since denn can only link two main clauses by introducing a second main clause, you’ll never find it at the start of the sentence. Because denn is less flexible in its sentence structure, you’re more likely to find it in formal writing rather than daily speech.
Tips for using denn in a German sentence
Using denn (because) in a German sentence is easy: place a comma after your first main clause, then place denn immediately after it, then place your second main clause after denn. That’s it! No need to restructure the clause after denn like you have to with weil.
Check out these examples to see how denn replaces a period between two sentences without affecting the word order of either one.
- Ich gehe ins Bett. Ich bin müde. → Ich gehe ins Bett, denn ich bin müde.
- I’m going to bed. I am tired. → I am going to bed because I am tired.
- Er bleibt zu Hause. Er ist krank. → Er bleibt zu Hause, denn er ist krank.
- He is staying home. He is sick. → He is staying home because he is sick.
- Wir bestellen Pizza. Niemand will kochen. → Wir bestellen Pizza, denn niemand will kochen.
- We’re ordering pizza. No one wants to cook. → We’re ordering pizza because no one wants to cook.
Key takeaways for saying ‘because’ in German
Regardless of which method you follow for how to learn German, getting used to when to choose weil vs. denn will improve your written German and help you sound more natural when speaking. Here are four key takeaways to remember about saying “because” in German.
- There are two words for “because” in German: weil and denn.
- Weil is used to connect a subordinate clause to a main clause and kicks the verb of the clause it introduces to the end of the clause.
- Two main clauses can be connected by denn, and you don’t adjust the word order of either clause when you do so.
- Main clauses can stand on their own as a sentence, whereas subordinate clauses need a main clause to make sense as a sentence.
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