waarom

Dutch

Alternative forms

  • (text messaging/internet slang) wrm

Etymology

From Middle Dutch waeromme. Equivalent to a univerbation of waar +‎ om. Compare German warum.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ʋaːˈrɔm/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: waar‧om
  • Rhymes: -ɔm

Adverb

waarom

  1. why, because of what
    Waarom ben je zo laat thuisgekomen?
    Why did you come home so late?
    Ik begrijp niet waarom ze boos is.
    I don't understand why she's angry.
    Kun je me uitleggen waarom je dat besluit hebt genomen?
    Can you explain why you made that decision?
    • 2024, Joost, “Luchtballon”‎[1]:
      Je vraagt me waarom, maar ik ben niet dom / Laat me maar vliegen in m'n luchtballon
      You ask me why, but I'm not stupid / Just let me fly in my hot-air balloon
  2. pronominal adverb form of om + wat

Declension

Pronominal adverbs of waarom
preposition om
postpositional adv. om
+ het (it) erom
+ dit (this) hierom
+ dat (that) daarom
+ wat (what) waarom
+ iets (something) ergens om
+ niets (nothing) nergens om
+ alles (everything) overal om

Descendants

  • Jersey Dutch: wāāirom
  • Negerhollands: waerom

See also

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