Is there any significant difference between “perché” and “poiché”? I’ve seen both used where “because” was the best English translation.
There were a couple of other words used the same way, but I can’t remember them now.
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3Very briefly, I have the impression that "poiché" is more similar to "since" in English– laikaApr 1, 2014 at 16:58
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2Let me add, partially beside the point, that perché also is the interrogative adverb corresponding to “why”, while poiché cannot be used so.– DaGApr 2, 2014 at 10:33
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2 Answers
As you can read here, there is a subtle difference regarding the syntax:
["poiché" si adopera] per introdurre una prop. causale che precede la principale: poiché la pensi così, lascio decidere a te (quando invece la propr. causale segue la principale si preferisce «perché»: lascio decidere a te perché so come la pensi
I'll try to translate it:
["poiché" is used] to introduce a "because clause" before the main sentence: poiché la pensi così, lascio decidere a te (instead, if the main sentence comes first, "perché" is preferable: lascio decidere a te perché so come la pensi
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It's not such a subtle difference, in the first case perché is plain wrong. What is subtle is the difference between poiché and perché in the second case. Treccani only says that the latter is preferrable. Apr 2, 2014 at 17:36
As stated in the Treccani page linked above, "perché" can also be a synonym of "affinché", meaning "in order to". The syntax is similar to English:
"Perché tu possa finire il progetto, ti servirà almeno una settimana." means "In order to complete the project, you'll need at least a week".
The reversed form with the main sentence put first is also correct.
