weshalb
Translation
why, for what reason, which is why
Examples
Weshalb kommst du so spät?
Why are you coming so late?
Er war krank, weshalb er nicht kam.
He was sick, which is why he didn't come.
Grammar Patterns
((Question)) Why ...? Weshalb kommst du so spät?
((Conjunction)) ..., which is why ... Er war krank, weshalb er nicht kam.
Similar Words
Synonyms: warum, wieso, aus welchem Grund (for what reason); Antonyms: deshalb, darum (as an answer)
Etymology
From Old High German 'wes' (genitive of 'was', what) and 'halb' (on account of). It literally means 'on account of what?'.
Memory Tips
Consider it a slightly more formal alternative to 'warum'. It functions both as a question word and as a conjunction explaining a reason.