German · Greetings & Essentials
"Because" in German: weil
weil
Because in German is weil. After weil the verb goes to the end: Ich bleibe, weil ich müde bin. Denn also means because but keeps normal word order.
Canceling
Ich komme nicht, weil ich krank bin.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce weil
Say it
VILE
/vaɪl/
VILE. Like English while without the w glide; clear l.
"Because" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| weil | because Subordinating; verb final. | Subordinating; verb final. |
| denn | because / for Coordinating; verb second. | Coordinating; verb second. |
| deshalb / deswegen | that's why Result, not because. | Result, not because. |
| wegen | because of Preposition + noun. | Preposition + noun. |
How to use weil in real life
- 1Canceling
Ich komme nicht, weil ich krank bin.
I'm not coming because I'm sick.
Bin at the end.
- 2Food choice
Ich nehme Tee, weil Kaffee zu stark ist.
I'll take tea because coffee is too strong.
Ist final.
- 3Late
Wir warten, weil der Bus Verspätung hat.
We're waiting because the bus is delayed.
Hat final.
Mistakes English speakers make with weil
Incorrect: Ich bleibe, weil ich bin müde.
Correct: Ich bleibe, weil ich müde bin.
Weil sends the conjugated verb to the end.
Incorrect: weil of the rain
Correct: wegen des Regens / weil es regnet
Weil needs a clause; wegen takes a noun.
Good to know
Learners mix weil and denn constantly. Both mean because; only weil flips the verb. Spoken German sometimes loosens the rule, but exams still want verb-final weil.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Explaining a quiet evening
ChatPal
Warum bleibst du zu Hause?
Why are you staying home?
You
Weil ich früh aufstehen muss.
Because I have to get up early.
ChatPal
Okay. Ich gehe allein, weil du arbeitest.
Okay. I'll go alone because you're working.
You
Danke fürs Verständnis.
Thanks for understanding.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Because" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Because" in German
Because?
Weil.
Word order?
Verb goes to the end after weil.
Denn?
Also because, but verb stays second.
Because of + noun?
Wegen + noun.
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