warum

German

Etymology

From Middle High German wārumbe, wārumme, from Old High German wār umbe. Equivalent to wo (where) + um (about, around, at), thus originally “about what”. 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)
  • Rhymes: -ʊm

Adverb

warum

  1. why; for what reason

See also

Further reading

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