Wegen vs. Deswegen What's the difference?

Quick Answer

Wegen and deswegen are both used to express causality in German, but they are used differently. Wegen is a preposition meaning 'because of' and is followed by a noun, indicating the cause or reason. Deswegen, on the other hand, is an adverb meaning 'therefore' or 'for that reason', and is used to refer back to something previously mentioned as the cause.

Understanding “Wegen”

“Wegen” is a preposition used to express the reason or cause for something. It's typically followed by a noun or noun phrase and can be translated as 'because of' or 'due to'. In German, it requires the genitive case, but in everyday language, the dative is often used.

Example in use:

Wegen des Regens wurde das Spiel abgesagt.

The game was cancelled because of the rain.

Grasping “Deswegen”

“Deswegen” is an adverb that's used to refer back to a previously stated reason or cause. It translates to 'therefore', 'that's why', or 'for that reason'. It is often used at the beginning of a sentence to indicate a conclusion or result of something mentioned before.

For example:

Es regnete; deswegen wurde das Spiel abgesagt.

It was raining; therefore, the game was cancelled.

Practical Examples

To further clarify, let’s look at some examples:

Wegen des Wetters bleibe ich zu Hause.

I'm staying home because of the weather.

Es schneit stark. Deswegen sind die Straßen geschlossen.

It's snowing heavily. That's why the roads are closed.

When to Use Each Word

Remember, use “wegen” when directly stating the cause or reason, typically followed by a noun. Use “deswegen” when referring back to a cause or reason previously mentioned, often at the start of a new sentence or clause.

FAQs for Further Understanding

To round off your understanding, here are some FAQs:

Can `wegen` and `deswegen` be used interchangeably?

No, they cannot be used interchangeably. `Wegen` is a preposition used with a noun to state a reason, while `deswegen` is an adverb used to refer back to a previously mentioned reason.

Is it correct to use the dative case after `wegen`?

While the genitive case is the grammatical norm after `wegen`, in colloquial German, the dative case is commonly used.

Ich weiß nicht, wie ich diesen Text übersetzen soll.

I do not know how to translate this text.

Kann ich dir helfen? Ich kenne mich mit Deutsch-Englisch Übersetzungen aus.

Can I help you? I know a lot about German-English translations.

Ja, das wäre toll. Weißt du wie man das Wort 'Eichhörnchen' übersetzt?

Yes, that would be great. Do you know how to translate the word 'Eichhörnchen'?

Oh, das Tier kenne ich nicht... ach, doch, ich weiß welches du meinst! Das ist 'squirrel'.

Oh, I don't know that animal... Oh, yes, I know which one you mean! That's 'squirrel'.