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English word why comes from Proto-Indo-European interrogative roots *kʷ-, *kʷe-, *kʷo-, and later Proto-Germanic *hwī (how, with what, by what means)
*kʷ- (Proto-Indo-European)
Primary interrogative root in Indo-European
*kʷe- (Proto-Indo-European)
*kʷo- (Proto-Indo-European)
*kʷód, kʷod (Proto-Indo-European)
*hwī (Proto-Germanic)
How, with what, by what means;.
*kʷís (Proto-Indo-European)
Who, what (interrogative). Who, which, that (relative) Which, what.
*hwē (Proto-Germanic)
How, with what, by what means;.
hwā (Old English)
hwī (Old English)
why (Middle English)
why (English)
An exclamation used to express indignation, mild surprise, or impatience. "Well, I'll tell you...". Reason For what cause, reason, or purpose.. Introducing a complete question.. Introducing a noun or other phrase.. Introducing a verb phrase (bare infinitive clause).