Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.

Definition: Why |
WhyAdverb1. Question word; what is the reason; "why are you here?"; (`how come' is a nonstandard variant as in "how come he got an ice cream cone but I didn't?"). Noun1. The cause or intention underlying an action or situation esp in the phrase "the whys and wherefores". Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "why" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1010. (references) |
Etymology: Why \Why\, adverb [Old English whi, why, Anglo-Saxon hw[=i], instrumental case of hw[=a], hw[ae]t; akin to Icelandic hv[=i] why, Danish & Swedish hvi; compare to Gothic. See Who.]. (references) |
| Domain | Definition |
Multilingual Slang | Bielorussian (chulia ), Russian (na khuya). (references) |
Tips from 1870 | Usage: Why. Many persons have a foolish habit of beginning their answer to a question with the word why. In some cases it doubtless has its origin in the desire to gain time while the mind is preparing the answer, but in most instances it is merely a habit. Some persons prefix the word why to the statement of a fact or to the asking of a question. This is even worse than to employ it to introduce the answer. Restrict it to its legitimate use. Source: Slips of Speech. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
Synonyms: WhySynonyms: how come (adv), wherefore (n). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Affirmation | As God is my witness, I must say, indeed, i' faith, let me tell you, why, give me leave to say, marry, you may be sure, I'd have you to know; upon my word, upon my honor; by my troth, egad, I assure you; by jingo, by Jove, by George; troth, seriously, sadly; in sadness, in sober sadness, in truth, in earnest; of a truth, truly, perdy, in all conscience, upon oath; be assured; (belief); yes; (assent); I'll warrant, I'll warrant you, I'll engage, I'll answer for it, I'll be bound, I'll venture to say, I'll take my oath; in fact, forsooth, joking apart; so help me God; not to mince the matter. |
Assent | OK, all right, might as well, why not? |
Attribution | Phrase: that is why; hinc illae lachrymae. |
Explanation; (interpretation); reason why; (cause). | |
Cause | Ground; reason, reason why; why and wherefore, rationale, occasion, derivation; final cause; (intention); les dessous des cartes; undercurrents. |
Motive | Reason, ground, call, principle; by end, by purpose; mainspring, primum mobile, keystone; the why and the wherefore; pro and con, reason why; secret motive, arriere pensee; intention. |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
| Domain | Usage | |
Screenplays | Why don't you tell me my dick is as big as Stifler's (American Pie 2; writing credit: Adam Herz; David H. Steinberg) This is why Superman works alone (Batman & Robin; writing credit: Akiva Goldsman) Why don't you tell our daughter about it, honey (American Beauty; writing credit: Alan Ball) Why do I need a lawyer (The Sweet Hereafter; writing credit: Atom Egoyan) Why would the courtesan go for the penniless writer (Moulin Rouge!; writing credit: Baz Luhrmann; Craig Pearce) | |
Lyrics | Why does my heart (Why Do Fools Fall In Love; performing artist: Diana Ross) And I guess that's why they call it the blues (I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues; performing artist: Elton John) I'll keep moving on and only God knows why (Only God Knows Why; performing artist: Kid Rock) So why they call it fallin (Why They Call It Fallin; performing artist: Lee Ann Womack) Why don't you call me again (Why Didn't You Call Me?; performing artist: Macy Gray) | |
Clever | Why shouldn't truth be stranger than fiction? Fiction, after all, has to make sense. (references; author: Mark Twain) The trees in Siberia are miles apart, that is why the dogs are so fast. [About Russia] (references; author: Bob Hope) Why did kamikaze pilots wear helmets? (references; author: unknown) When it rains, why don't sheep shrink? (references; author: unknown) Why are there interstate highways in Hawaii? (references; author: unknown) | |
Tongue Twisters | Why may we melee, when we may waylay? (references; author: unknown) | |
Movie/TV Titles | Why Rock the Boat? (1974) Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me? (1971) Why Russians Are Revolting (1970) That's Why I Left You (1943) Why Pick on Me? (1938) | |
Song Titles | Why (performing artist: Frankie Avalon) Why Don't You Love Me (performing artist: Hank Williams Sr.) That Reason Why (performing artist: Idol Threat) Why Me? (performing artist: Irene Cara) Why Not Me (performing artist: Judds) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | ||
| Domain | Title | ||
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Theater & Movies |
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Music |
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Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit | Thumbnail | Description & Credit |
![]() | Why the rock was being strained 1/2 scale explosion at Dugway Proving Ground. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection. | ![]() | Great Blue Heron nesting area, or as it is called, a heronry. Yes, that is a person's head peering out from the tree. Why he was there is unknown. Credit: America's Coastlines. |
![]() | This is why the South Pole has a geodesic dome. The sledding was great. Credit: Paths Less Taken - NOAA at the Ends of the Earth. | ![]() | Why this is being done is too complicated to explain. Credit: Paths Less Taken - NOAA at the Ends of the Earth. |
![]() | This barge-load of salmon attests to why the Alaska salmon fishery was the most valuable fishery prosecuted by U. S. fishermen at the time of this photo. F&WL C-1193. Credit: Fisheries. | ![]() | North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve. A flight of Black Skimmers demonstrating why they are called "skimmers.". Credit: National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERR). |
![]() | Why be ruptured. Credit: National Library of Medicine. | ![]() | Why are advertised remedies and doctors who advertise dangerous? / Smithsonian Institution photo. Credit: National Library of Medicine. |
![]() | Our only true medical diploma since 1871--none other genuine / Why Dr. Carl Both refused to pay further assessments to the Mass. Medical Society (Suffolk District). Credit: Library of Congress. | ![]() | Why we reform. Credit: Library of Congress. |
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
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| "Why not read" by Vi Xs Commentary: "Reading my 'Why Not Associates' book." | "Line of Chairs" by Ian Archambeau Commentary: "A line of chairs. If your going to download the picture it would be cool if you could leave a comment why, thanks." |
Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers. | |
| Author | Quotation |
Author Unknown | Why worry when you can pray. |
Cervantes | Why do you lead me a wild goose chase? |
Phyllis Diller | Housework can't kill you, but why take a chance? |
Ralph Waldo Emerson | Why should we be cowed by the name of Action?. |
Robert Burton | Why doth one man's yawning make another yawn? |
Samuel Butler | For every why he had a wherefore. |
The Bible | My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me? |
William Shakespeare | Every why has a wherefore. |
| Why should honor outlive honestly? [Orthello] | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | |
| Author | Date | Quotation |
John Locke | 1690 | And why this should not hold in the highest, as well as in the most inferior magistrate, I would gladly be informed. (Second Treatise of Government) |
Marbury v. Madison | 1803 | Why otherwise does it direct the judges to take an oath to support it? (reference) |
Winston S. Churchill | 1946 | If two of the workmen know each other particularly well and are old friends, if their families are inter-mingled, and if they have "faith in each other's purpose, hope in each other's future and charity towards each other's shortcomings" - to quote some good words I read here the other day - why cannot they work together at the common task as friends and partners? Why cannot they share their tools and thus increase each other's working powers? Indeed they must do so or else the temple may not be built, or, being built, it may collapse, and we shall all be proved again unteachable and have to go and try to learn again for a third time in a school of war, incomparably more rigorous than that from which we have just been released. ("Iron Curtain" Speech) |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Title | Author | Quote |
Emma | Austen, Jane | And (raising his voice still more) I do not see why Miss Fairfax should not be mentioned too. |
Puzzle | Carroll, Lewis | Y! Why, I. |
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy | Douglas Adams | Why am I here |
Scarlet Letter | Hawthorne, Nathaniel | Especially, she is seldom tolerant of emotion, when she does not fully comprehend the why and wherefore |
Les Miserables | Hugo, Victor | And this is why diabetes borders on consumption |
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man | Joyce, James | I know why they scut |
King Richard III | Shakespeare, William | Why look you pale |
Grapes of Wrath | Steinbeck, John | Why, you can reach out anywhere and pick an orange |
Walden | Thoreau, Henry David | Why will men worry themselves so |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Health | But scientists do not yet know why this happens. (references) | |
It’s easy to see why they connected menopause with death. (references) | ||
No one is sure why this happens, but scientists have some clues. (references) | ||
Business | The French are individualistic travelers, which explains why 70 percent choose Fly and Drive options. (references) | |
This is the main reason why it is so difficult for smaller crop producers to incorporate new technology. (references) | ||
It explains why the Swiss manufacturing industry has been one of the main promotors of a liberalized market. (references) | ||
Civil Liberties | Congo | The four claimed that they did not know why they had been arrested. (references) |
Tajikistan | Others were called in by the Ministry of Security and also asked why they had changed religious affiliation. (references) | |
Tajikistan | Members of the Baha'i community occasionally were confronted by the police guard outside Dushanbe's Baha'i Center and asked why they had forsaken Islam. (references) | |
Economic History | Sweden | Consumer goods - why not Sweden? Fashion, health and beauty aids, and the list goes on. (references) |
Portugal | Pricing is the most common reason why a number of American products offered in Portugal are not competitive. (references) | |
Switzerland | This explains why development of new energy sources, particularly renewable energy, has become a top priority. (references) | |
Human Rights | Denmark | If a judge decides to hold persons in detention, then he must issue an order stating why. (references) |
Macedonia | The Government did not issue a statement explaining why it did not release the remaining 24 persons who were eligible for pardon. (references) | |
Cuba | The authorities wanted to know why the 14-year-old was not attending political rallies, including the May 1 march in honor of workers. (references) | |
Minorities | Slovak Republic | He further stated, "It is clear that many mentally retarded persons are born into Romani communities, why should the State allow a moron to create another moron and thus raise the percentage of morons in our nation?" In response to his statements, the Slovak Romani Initiative (RIS) filed a suit with the General Prosecutor against Moric. (references) |
Political Economy | BRAZIL | If inflation exceeds the outer band, the Central Bank president needs to address an open letter to the Minister of Finance explaining why the target was not met. (references) |
Ecuador | Many Ecuadorians who have suffered from the cuts in internal spending still fail to understand why the country cannot afford to continue massive subsidies and increase salaries in the current climate. (references) | |
Trade | Egypt | Sometimes they damage the sample, which is why different authorities require a complete sample such as a complete carton to assure a product's safety. (references) |
Burma | These labor practices are not consistent with Burma's obligations under ILO Conventions 29 and 87, and thus explain why the ILO imposed sanctions last year against Burma. (references) | |
Luxembourg | This economic integration explains why many industrial and commercial groups have, over recent years, been established in Luxembourg with a view to developing into the European market. (references) | |
Women | Algeria | The violence was incited by an imam who accused the women of prostitution and questioned why they were working while men in the town were unemployed. (references) |
India | In April the NHRC requested an explanation from the Chief Minister of Assam as to why he continued to retain a state cabinet member who was accused of raping a minor. (references) | |
Worker Rights | Greece | Of female prostitutes, 75 percent are not told why they are being brought to Greece. (references) |
Lexicography | Devil's Dictionary | GHOST, n. The outward and visible sign of an inward fear. He saw a ghost. It occupied -- that dismal thing! -- The path that he was following. Before he'd time to stop and fly, An earthquake trifled with the eye That saw a ghost. He fell as fall the early good; Unmoved that awful vision stood. The stars that danced before his ken He wildly brushed away, and then He saw a post. Jared Macphester Accounting for the uncommon behavior of ghosts, Heine mentions somebody's ingenious theory to the effect that they are as much afraid of us as we of them. Not quite, if I may judge from such tables of comparative speed as I am able to compile from memories of my own experience. There is one insuperable obstacle to a belief in ghosts. A ghost never comes naked: he appears either in a winding-sheet or "in his habit as he lived." To believe in him, then, is to believe that not only have the dead the power to make themselves visible after there is nothing left of them, but that the same power inheres in textile fabrics. Supposing the products of the loom to have this ability, what object would they have in exercising it? And why does not the apparition of a suit of clothes sometimes walk abroad without a ghost in it? These be riddles of significance. They reach away down and get a convulsive grip on the very tap-root of this flourishing faith. |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| Speaker | Phrase(s) |
Bob Jones | You know I did. Let me tell you why I did. I'm sorry I did. We've all said things we wish we hadn't said. |
Dan Rather | The marines' battle cry, their creed, is be quick and be deadly and that is why the corps is expected to be among the first to sweep deep into Iraq. |
David Letterman | Nothing's wrong with your brother, but you know by now they're in it for the free meal. You must know by now that that's why they're here. Of course, look at them. |
Katie Couric | So I was slightly bemused by it, to say the least. You know, I never can quite figure out who talks, how this gets out and why it appears in print. So I felt very uncomfortable about the whole thing. |
Phil McGraw | I absolutely love it. I don't like the therapy model that we have in America, but I love figuring out why people do what they do and don't do what they don't. |
Robert Atkins | We don't know why but we assume there is something in carbohydrate that would aggravate the stomach function. Because that's the one thing that's restricted. |
Rush Limbaugh | Why, half of Canada comes down here to try to get medical coverage or for major surgery because of how long the waiting list is at home. |
Ted Olson | That's the message that Barbara had, and that's why it's so important for her voice to be out there, her smile to still be out there. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Speaker | Term | Phrase(s) |
James Monroe | 1817-1825 | In the West Indies piracy is of recent date, which may explain the cause why other powers have not combined against it. |
Ulysses S. Grant | 1869-1877 | Why, it looks as though Providence had bestowed upon us a strong box in the precious metals locked up in the sterile mountains of the far West, and which we are now forging the key to unlock, to meet the very contingency that is now upon us. |
Harry S. Truman | 1945-1953 | That is why I have recommended a substantial increase in appropriations for the next fiscal year for this Department. |
Richard Nixon | 1969-1974 | Now, this clearly demonstrates why it is not wise to be frozen in on a fixed timetable. |
Ronald Reagan | 1981-1989 | Our children come first, and that's why I established a bipartisan National Commission on Excellence in Education, to help us chart a commonsense course for better education. |
George Bush | 1989-1993 | But we also know why the hopes of humanity turn to us. |
Bill Clinton | 1993-2001 | That's why I recommend spending more to teach them civics and English. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| "Why" is generally used as an adverb (wh-) -- approximately 100.00% of the time. "Why" is used about 50,823 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Adverb (wh-) | 100% | 50,823 | 166 |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
| The following table summarizes the usage of "why" based on a population census conducted in the United States. Ranks and frequencies are based on all names reported and classified. |
| Name | Usage/Gender | Usage per 100 million Persons | Rank in USA |
| Why | Last name | 130 | 66,501 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits. | |||
1. Why, AZ |
Expressions using "why": For why ♦ i can't conceive why ♦ i wonder why ♦ reason why ♦ reason why copy ♦ tell me why ♦ that is why ♦ that's why ♦ which is why ♦ why are you going? ♦ why did you do it? ♦ why do you wink at me? ♦ why don't you get lost? ♦ why ever not? ♦ why no? ♦ why not? ♦ why on earth? ♦ why should i? ♦ why so? ♦ why the mischief ♦ why to be sure! ♦ why yes. Additional references. | |
| Hyphenated Usage | |
Beginning with "why": why-dun-it, why-dun-its, why-not. | |
Ending with "why": her-why, reason-why, tell-why, w-why. | |
Containing "why": who-is-this-jerk-and-why-am-i-married-to-him, who-what-why-and-when. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Language | Translations for "why"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Afrikaans | waarom (what, what for, wherefore), hoekom (what, what for, wherefore). (various references) | |
Albanian | pse (wherefore), përse (wherefore, why (for what)), arsye (account, argument, cause, consideration, justice, justification, matter, motivation, motive, nous, occasion, place, plea, reason, sense, spring), arësye (account, argument, cause, consideration, justice, justification, matter, motivation, motive, nous, occasion, place, plea, reason, sense, spring). (various references) | |
Arabic | هتاف يعبر عن الدهشة, لماذا (wherefore), سبب (account, beget, breed, bring about, cause, give rise to, ground, inspire, motif, motive, occasion, procure, purpose, ratio, reason, rise, score, source, wherefore). (various references) | |
Bulgarian | с каква цел (wherefore, whereto, whereunto), я гледай, я (hallo), виж ти, обяснение (account, declaration, exegesis, explanation, explication, exposition, interpretation, keyword, rationalization), защо (wherefore), ами че, ами (indeed, quotha), причина (account, cause, excuse, factor, occasion, parent, reason, room, score, spring, subject), поради което (whence, whereat, wherefore), по каква причина (wherefore). (various references) | |
Chinese | 為甚麼 , 為什麼 (for what reason), 怎樣 (how), 曷 (how, what, when, where), 何 (carry, how, what, which), 为什么. (various references) | |
Czech | tedy (accordingly, consequently, now, then, thus), proè (what for), příèina (cause, occasion, reason, resort, source), nuže, nu, k èemu. (various references) | |
Danish | hvorfor (what for, wherefore). (various references) | |
Dutch | waarom, hoezo (what for). (various references) | |
Esperanto | pro kio (what for, wherefore), kial (what for). (various references) | |
Faeroese | hví. (various references) | |
Farsi | چرا (Wherefore), بچه جهت , برای چه (Wherefore). (various references) | |
Finnish | siellähän sinä olet (there you are!), sepä vasta on jotakin! (that is something!), sepä sattui hyvin (that was lucky!), miksi (why? for what reason? wherefore?), kas vain (I never, just look, well), kas (..., asia on niin, että, look! look here, you see), han (certainly, indeed, rather, surely). (various references) | |
French | pourquoi (what for, wherefore). (various references) | |
Frisian | wêrom. (various references) | |
German | warum, weshalb (for which reason, what for, wherefore, which is why), wieso (how come), weswegen (what for, wherefore, why wett even). (various references) | |
Greek | γιατί (because), διατί (whereat, wherefore). (various references) | |
Hebrew | למה (what for, wherefore). (various references) | |
Hungarian | miért (what for, wherefore), mi okból. (various references) | |
Indonesian | wah (gosh, oh, say, well), mengapa (what for), kenapa. (various references) | |
Irish | cadinathaobh (what for), cadchuige (what for), cénfÚth (what for). (various references) | |
Italian | perche/, perché (as, because, for, in order that, reason, since, so, wherefore), per quale ragione, ma via, ma come. (various references) | |
Japanese Kanji | 何故 (how). (various references) | |
Japanese Katakana | なぜ (how), なにゆえ (how). (various references) | |
Korean | 왜. (various references) | |
Manx | fa (cause, reason). (various references) | |
Norwegian | hvorfor (what for, wherefore). (various references) | |
Papiamen | pakiko (what for, wherefore), pakíko (what for), di kon (what for, wherefore), di cón (what for). (various references) | |
Pig Latin | ywhay.(various references) | |
Polish | dlaczego. (various references) | |
Portuguese | porque (because, for the reason that, inasmuch as, just because, since, what for). (various references) | |
Romanian | pentru care motiv (wherefore), pãi (well), eh (well), din ce cauzã (wherefore), desigur (certainly, quite, sure enough, yes), de ce (but what), dar de ce, cum (although, as, because, directly, haw, how, like, such as, what, what a .., whereby, wherewith), cu ce scop, bunã (good, grandmother). (various references) | |
Russian | почему (as to why, how come, how is it that, wherefore). (various references) | |
Scottish | carson (what for, wherefore). (various references) | |
Serbo-Croatian | zbog čega (wherefore), zašto (what for), razlog (cause, excuse, motive, reason). (various references) | |
Spanish | por qué (what for, wherefore). (various references) | |
Swedish | varför (for what reason, so, wherefore, why?). (various references) | |
Turkish | sebep (account, causation, cause, consideration, ground, inducement, occasion, reason, subject), niye, niçin (forwhy, what for), neden (case, causatively, cause, forwhy, ground, inducement, motive, occasion, point, reason, rise, room, seeds, what for, whence, wherefore, wherefrom), níçín. (various references) | |
Turkmen | nдme ьзin. (various references) | |
Ukrainian | чому (what, wherefore). (various references) | |
Vietnamese | vì sao (wherefore), tại sao. (various references) | |
Welsh | pam (what for, wherefore), paham (what for, wherefore). (various references) | |
Xhosa | kutheni. (various references) | |
Yucatec | ba'en (what for), ba'axten (what for). (various references) | |
Zulu | yini ndaba (what for, wherefore). (various references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references. | ||
| Language | Period | Translations |
| Sumerian | 3100 BCE-2500 BCE | a-na-a. (various references) |
| Latin | 500 BCE-Modern | cur, quare. (various references) |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Language | Date | Source | Matthew Chapter 14, Verse 31 |
| Greek (transliterated) | 250 BC | Septuagint | EuqewV de o ihsouV ekteinaV thn ceira epelabeto autou kai legei autw oligopiste eiV ti edistasaV |
| Latin | 405 | Vulgate | Et continuo Iesus extendens manum adprehendit eum et ait illi modicae fidei quare dubitasti |
| Old English | 990 | West Saxon | And þa rædlice he ge-feng hyne & þus cwæð. litles ge-leafenes hwi tweonodostþu. |
| Middle English | 1395 | Wyclif | And anoon Jhesus helde forth his hoond, and took Petre, and seide to hym, Thou of litil feith, whi hast thou doutid? |
| Renaissance English | 1526 | Tyndale | And immediatly Iesus stretched forth his hode and caught him and sayde to him: O thou of lytell faith wherfore diddest thou dout? |
| Jacobean English | 1611 | King James | And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? |
| Victorian English | 1833 | Webster | And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said to him, O thou of little faith, Why didst thou doubt? |
| Basic English | 1964 | Ogden | And straight away Jesus put out his hand and took a grip of him, and said to him, O man of little faith, why were you in doubt? |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Language | Matthew Chapter 14, Verse 31 |
| Cebuano | Dihadiha gituyhad ni Jesus ang iyang kamot, ug iyang gikuptan siya, ug miingon kaniya, "O tawong diyutayg pagtoo, nganong nagduhaduha ka man?" |
| Chinese | 耶 穌 趕 緊 伸 手 拉 住 他 、 說 、 你 這 小 信 的 人 哪 、 為 甚 麼 疑 惑 呢 。 |
| Croatian | Isus odmah pruži ruku, dohvati ga i kaže mu: "Malovjerni, zašto si posumnjao?" |
| Danish | Og straks udrakte Jesus Hånden og greb ham, og han siger til ham: "Du lidettroende, hvorfor tvivlede du?" |
| Dutch | En Jezus, terstond de hand uitstekende, greep hem aan, en zeide tot hem: Gij kleingelovige! waarom hebt gij gewankeld? |
| Finnish | Niin Jeesus kohta ojensi kätensä, tarttui häneen ja sanoi hänelle: "Sinä vähäuskoinen, miksi epäilit?" |
| French | Aussitôt Jésus étendit la main, le saisit, et lui dit: Homme de peu de foi, pourquoi as-tu douté? |
| German | Jesus reckte alsbald die Hand aus und ergriff ihn und sprach zu ihm: O du Kleingläubiger, warum zweifeltest du? |
| Haitian Creole | Menm lè a, Jezi lonje men l', li pran Pyè, li di li: Gade jan ou manke konfyans. Poukisa ou pa te fin kenbe konfyans ou nèt? |
| Hungarian | Jézus pedig azonnal kinyújtván kezét, megragadá õt, és monda néki: Kicsinyhitû, miért kételkedél? |
| Indonesian-Bahasa Sehari-hari | Yesus segera mengulurkan tangan-Nya dan menangkap dia, dan berkata, "Petrus, Petrus, kau ini kurang percaya. Mengapa kau ragu-ragu kepada-Ku?" |
| Indonesian-Terjemahan Lama | Maka dengan segeranya Yesus mengulurkan tangan-Nya mencapai dia sambil berkata kepadanya, "Hai engkau yang kurang percaya; apakah sebabnya bimbang hatimu?" |
| Manx Gaelic | As ayns y tullogh, heeyn Yeesey magh e laue, as haare eh eh, as dooyrt eh rish, O ghooinney faase-chredjuagh, cre'n-fa v'ou mee-ouryssagh? |
| Maori | Hohoro tonu te totoro o te ringa o Ihu, ka hopu i a ia, ka mea ki a ia, E te tangata whakapono iti, he aha koe i ngakau rua ai? |
| Norwegian | Og Jesus rakte straks hånden ut og tok fatt i ham og sa til ham: Du lite troende! hvorfor tvilte du? |
| Portuguese | Imediatamente estendeu Jesus a mão, segurou-o, e disse-lhe: Homem de pouca fé, por que duvidaste? |
| Rumanian | Kndatq, Isus a kntins mkna, l -a apucat, wi i -a zis: ,,Puyin credinciosule, pentruce te-ai kndoit?`` |
| Shuar | Nu chichamtaik Jesus uwejnum achik Júak "Maa, Yus Imiá ishichik Enentáimtuschamek" Tímiayi. |
| Swahili | Hapo, Yesu akaunyosha mkono wake, akamshika na kumwambia, "Ewe mwenye imani haba! Kwa nini uliona shaka?" |
| Swedish | Och strax räckte Jesus ut handen och fattade i honom och sade till honom: "Du klentrogne, varför tvivlade du?" |
| Uma | Kana'ulu-nami Yesus pale-na mpentoe Petrus, na'uli' -ki: "Kura' rahi-kona pepangala' -nu! Napa pai' morara' nono-nu!" |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "why": whydah, whydahs, whys. (additional references) | |
Words ending with "why": forwhy. (additional references) | |
| |
"Why" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: Hwi, ohy, Rhy, wahaya, wahey, wahh, Wahhh, wh, wha, whay, whe, whi, whie, whieh, whn, whuy, whydu, whye, wiy, wj, woy, wpy, wuy, wy, wyf, Wyhl. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "why" (pronounced wī" or hwī") |
| 2 | w ī" | Wye. |
| 2 | -w ī" | Wye. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words containing the letters "h-w-y" | |
+1 letter: whey, whys, wych. | |
+2 letters: chewy, howdy, showy, thewy, washy, wheys, whiny, whity, withy. | |
+3 letters: anyhow, forwhy, hawkey, haymow, swishy, whacky, whammy, wheezy, whelky, wherry, wheyey, whimsy, whiney, whinny, whippy, whirly, whirry, whisky, whitey, wholly, whydah, witchy, worthy, wrathy, wyches. | |
+4 letters: archway, eyewash, fishway, growthy, halfway, hallway, hawkeys, haymows, hayward, haywire, headway, highway, pathway, shadowy, shipway, showery, showily, swarthy, swithly, thruway, twitchy, unshowy, washday, wealthy, weighty, whereby, wheyish, whimsey, whipray, whiskey, whitely, whiteys, whydahs, wreathy. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Definition 2. Synonyms 3. Crosswords 4. Usage: Modern | 5. Usage: Commercial 6. Images: Slideshow 7. Images: Photo Album 8. Images: Digital Art | 9. Quotations: Familiar 10. Quotations: Historic 11. Quotations: Fiction 12. Quotations: Non-fiction | 13. Quotations: Spoken 14. Quotations: Speeches 15. Usage Frequency 16. Names: Frequency | 17. Cities 18. Expressions 19. Expressions: Internet 20. Translations: Modern | 21. Translations: Ancient 22. Bible Trace 23. Derivations 24. Rhymes | 25. Anagrams 26. Bibliography |
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