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зачем. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
зачем, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
зачем in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
зачем you have here. The definition of the word
зачем will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
зачем, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Russian
Alternative forms
Etymology
Univerbation of the phrase за чем (za čem), from the preposition за (za) + чем (čem), instrumental singular of что (što, “what”). This was originally marked as Saint Petersburg dialect, while in Moscow зачто́ (zaštó) was used as late as the 18th century.
Pronunciation
Adverb
заче́м • (začém)
- (interrogative) why, what for (for what purpose, to what end, with what goal)
- Заче́м ты ей звони́шь? У неё телефо́н разряди́лся. ― Začém ty jej zvoníšʹ? U nejó telefón razrjadílsja. ― Why are you calling her? Her phone ran out of charge.
- (indicative) why, what for (for what purpose, to what end, with what goal)
- Малыша́м тру́дно объясни́ть, заче́м ну́жно чи́стить зу́бы. ― Malyšám trúdno obʺjasnítʹ, začém núžno čístitʹ zúby. ― It's hard to explain to children why they need to brush their teeth.
Usage notes
- Заче́м (Začém), while most often translated into English simply as "why" like почему́ (počemú), enquires about the goal/objective of something. It is quite often used in a similar manner to "what's the point of" (како́й смысл (kakój smysl)). Sometimes it is interchangeable with почему́ (počemú), but other times one is more appropriate than the other.
- The reply begins with что́бы (štóby) or зате́м, что́бы (zatém, štóby), "(in order) to".
Related terms
See also