Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [hwahy, wahy]
- /ʰwaɪ, waɪ/
- /waɪ/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [hwahy, wahy]
- /ʰwaɪ, waɪ/
Definitions of why word
- adverb why for what? for what reason, cause, or purpose?: Why did you behave so badly? 1
- noun plural why a question concerning the cause or reason for which something is done, achieved, etc.: a child's unending hows and whys. 1
- noun plural why the cause or reason: the whys and wherefores of a troublesome situation. 1
- noun why (with reference to a reason) On account of which; for which. 1
- interjection why explain 1
- adverb why for what reason? 1
Information block about the term
Origin of why
First appearance:
before 900 One of the 4% oldest English words
before 900; Middle English; Old English hwī, hwȳ, instrumental case of hwæt what; cognate with Old Norse hvī
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Why
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
why popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 91% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
why usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for why
adverb why
- wherefore — Archaic. for what? why?
noun why
- reason — a basis or cause, as for some belief, action, fact, event, etc.: the reason for declaring war.
- cause — a person or thing that acts, happens, or exists in such a way that some specific thing happens as a result; the producer of an effect: You have been the cause of much anxiety. What was the cause of the accident?
- motive — something that causes a person to act in a certain way, do a certain thing, etc.; incentive.
- mystery — anything that is kept secret or remains unexplained or unknown: the mysteries of nature.
- proof — evidence sufficient to establish a thing as true, or to produce belief in its truth.
Top questions with why
- why is there a leap day?
- why?
- why is the sky blue?
- super why?
- why so serious?
- why is my poop green?
- why is caillou bald?
- why did i get married?
- why do cats purr?
- why do dogs eat grass?
- why not both?
- i know why the caged bird sings?
- why am i so tired?
- why are firetrucks red?
- why are flags at half mast today?