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"Por qué" is a phrase which is often translated as "why", and "qué" is a pronoun which is often translated as "what". Learn more about the difference between "por qué" and "qué" below.
por qué(
pohr
keh
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
qué(
keh
)A pronoun is a word that stands in for a noun (e.g., she).
a. what
¿Sabías que Tina y Héctor se dejaron? - ¡Qué va!Did you know that Tina and Hector broke up? - Wait, what!
An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).