Es qué versus por qué
¿Cual es la diferencia entre es qué y por qué?
9 Answers
I have been using the subtitles from the Spanish TV show Velvet to study Spanish. I have the Spanish and English subtitles from Netflix for 7 episodes and I use them to practice my Spanish writing on Quizlet. Below you will find several sentences in both English and Spanish to show some ways "es que" is used in Spanish and the ways it can be translated in English.
Perdona, es que mi amigo está pasando un mal momento.
I'm sorry. My friend is going through a tough time right now.
Here it isn't translated. The English just goes straight to the facts. (very, very common I think)
Sí, pero es que... No, no hay excusa. Mire, está arrugado.
Yes, it's just that No, there are no excuses. Look! It's wrinkled.
Perdón, pero es que me ha llegado una carta.
I'm sorry, it's just that a letter arrived for me.
Pero es que yo soy así, Sr. De la Riva.
But that's just how I am, Mr. De la Riva.
¿Te has roto? El problema es que somos de pueblo.
Are you broken? The problem is that we're country folk.
The basic pattern is that in Spanish it's a very common little filler, often used to give an explanation, make an apology or offer an excuse.
In English, we can say "It's that......excuse / apology / explanation" but it is sort of strange sounding in English. (at least to these American ears) This would be the most literal translation of "es que"
However the following are MUCH more common:
Just go straight to the point, with no prefix. or say:
It's just that...
It's because....
It's only because...
The reason is ....
But I just wanted to ....
I'm only saying,...
I'm just sayin'....
What I meant was...
Let me explain...
It wasn't my fault.... 
Or probably dozens of other little phrases similar to the above
And yes, I know that there are other ways to say these things in Spanish, but "es que" is used A LOT! I would estimate that there are about 10 "es ques" in one episode of Velvet from a total of about 800 sentences.
etc. etc.
Yo escribo con la mano izquierda. Es que soy zurdo.
I write with my left hand. The thing is I'm left-handed or It's because I'm left-handed.
Voy a comer algo. Es que tengo hambre.
I'm going to eat something. The "matter" is I'm hungry or it's because I'm hungry.
Julia se está maquillando. Es que va a ir a una fiesta.
Julia is making up. The thing is she's going to a party or it's because she's going to a party.
This is as far as I can see the similarity . What I can see is that there is a period or full stop before "es que" whereas "porque " is included in the same sentence.
Let's see what other people have to say.
Thanks Heidita2.
I don't really have a sentence. My prof used it in a sence that it means 'because'. I just wondered if it's used as the same way as porque is being used.
Gracias NKM1974. Lo que quiero decir es porque. Entonces, es qué y porque son iguales, verda?
Thanks DilKen and polenta1.
Not really Heidita2.
Rick, do you remember the sentence?
Es que normally means: that is...as explaining something.
Hi Ricky, do you have a sentence?
Welcome to the forum
Es que can mean a lot of things, whereas "porque " can only mean "because".
Hello!
These two links from wordreference might be pertinent to this subject.
Hope this helps.
Regards!
