French Phrase
Pourquoi tu viens ?
Meaning
Literally “Why you are coming?” – a casual way to ask someone for the reason they are coming. It conveys genuine curiosity and is typical of everyday conversation among friends or peers.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal settings: with friends, family, classmates, or coworkers you already know. In a formal interview, a business meeting, or with strangers, switch to the inverted form “Pourquoi viens‑tu ?” or a more polite construction.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Pourquoituviens?
Pourquoi (why)
An interrogative adverb used to ask for a reason. It never changes form.
Subject pronoun tu
The informal second‑person singular pronoun. In spoken French it usually precedes the verb.
Present tense of venir
viens is the 1st‑person singular present of venir, but with the pronoun tu it becomes the 2nd‑person singular form.
Word order in spoken questions
In casual speech French often keeps the declarative order (Pourquoi + tu + verb) instead of the formal inversion (Pourquoi viens‑tu ?).
🗨In Conversation
Pourquoi tu viens ?
Why are you coming?
Je viens pour t’aider à préparer le dîner.
I’m coming to help you prepare dinner.
✕Common Mistakes
Pourquoi vous viens ?
The verb must agree with the subject pronoun. Use ‘vous venez’ for the formal/plural form.
Pourquoi tu vient ?
With ‘tu’, the correct present form of venir is ‘viens’. ‘Vient’ is the 3rd‑person singular.
Pourquoi viens tu ?
If you choose the formal style, you need a hyphen between the verb and the pronoun.
↔Alternatives
Pourquoi viens‑tu ?
Why are you coming? (formal/inverted)
Qu’est‑ce qui t’amène ?
What brings you here?
Tu viens pour quelle raison ?
You’re coming for what reason?
Cultural Tip
In France, the inverted form (Pourquoi viens‑tu ?) is considered the standard written French and is used in formal speech or on TV. The “Pourquoi tu viens ?” structure is typical of spoken, relaxed French and may sound too casual in a business email or with someone you don’t know well. Also, French speakers often add a rising intonation at the end of the sentence to signal a question, even without inversion.