Translation of German word "wegen" to English
wegen
/vaːɡn/
Meaning
PrepositionOn account of; due to, for the purpose of.
How to use
The preposition wegen ('because of / due to') requires the genitive case (wegen des Wetters — because of the weather). In spoken German, the dative is highly common (wegen dem Wetter). Grammatically, wegen can be placed before the noun (wegen des Unfalls) or after it (des Unfalls wegen). When combined with personal pronouns, it merges into pronominal forms like meinetwegen ('because of me / as far as I'm concerned / fine by me').
🇬🇧 English
wegen
Example
Sie hat gestern auf dem Markt ein wunderschönes Weil gekauft.
She bought a beautiful Weil at the market yesterday.
Your personal vocabulary
🦊 Use this word in a live AI conversationSynonyms
Common phrases
- meinetwegen— meinetwegen / deinetwegen (pronominal forms, e.g. 'because of you')
- wegen des Wetters— because of the weather (genitive)
- von Rechts wegen— by rights / legally speaking (idiom)
📖 Related grammar
Frequency rank: #104 in German
Learn them all! 🚀
Master the 1000 most common German words with smart explanations, audio pronunciation, and spaced repetition.
Start Learning For Free →No sign-up required
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the definition of the German word "wegen"?▼
The German word "wegen" is defined as: "On account of; due to, for the purpose of."
What does the German word "wegen" mean?▼
The German word "wegen" means "wegen" in English.
How do you pronounce the German word "wegen"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "wegen" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "wegen"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Sie hat gestern auf dem Markt ein wunderschönes Weil gekauft." (which translates as "She bought a beautiful Weil at the market yesterday.").
More Connectors & Prepositions words
Related reading
How Many Words Do You Need to Be Fluent in German?
Discover the science of vocabulary acquisition. Learn how many German words are needed for basic conversations, professional fluency, and near-native comprehension.
Read →GermanA1 → B1 in German: A Realistic Step-by-Step Roadmap
A realistic guide to moving from absolute beginner (A1) to intermediate (B1) in German. Learn what to study at each level, timeline estimates, and resources.
Read →