warum

German

Etymology

From Middle High German warumme, war umme, warumbe, war umbe, from Old High German wār umbe. Equivalent to wo (“where”) +‎ um (“in order to, for the purpose of”), thus “for what purpose”. 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)
  • Audio:(file)
  • Rhymes: -ʊm

Adverb

warum

  1. why; for what reason
    warum ist die Banane krumm? – why is the banana bent?

Derived terms

  • irgendwarum

See also

Further reading

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

Old English

Noun

warum

  1. dative plural of waru
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