💼❓🤔

How to Say ‘Why do you want to work?’ in Portuguese

Porque quer trabalhar?

POOR-keh kehr tra-ba-LYAR

[POOR-keh kehr tra-ba-LYAR]

💬 Usage Tip: The same porque works for both "why" and "because" in speech. As one word in a question, it's the normal spelling in Portugal.

Phrase Breakdown

Porque

[POOR-keh]

why

In questions, 'porque' means 'why'; in answers it means 'because'.

Example

Porque está triste?

Why are you sad?

quer

[kehr]

do you want

Form of 'querer' addressing 'você' or 'o senhor'.

Example

Quer um café?

Do you want a coffee?

trabalhar

[tra-ba-LYAR]

to work

Infinitive verb meaning to work.

Example

Gosto de trabalhar cedo.

I like to work early.

Guides for Portuguese learners

The Portuguese You Actually Need in Your First Month in PortugalThe European Portuguese phrases for your first weeks in Portugal: paperwork, renting a flat, the bank, the health centre, cafés, trains and your new neighbours.

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