German Phrase
Warum sind sie bewusstlos?
Meaning
The sentence asks for the cause of someone's loss of consciousness. It is a direct, factual question typically heard in medical, emergency‑services or police contexts.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to find out why a person (or a group of people) has become unconscious – for example, in a hospital ward, at the scene of an accident, or while taking a statement from a witness.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Warumsindsiebewusstlos?
Warum (why)
Interrogative adverb used to ask for a reason. It stays at the beginning of a yes‑no or wh‑question.
sein – sind (to be, 3rd pl.)
Present tense of the verb 'sein' for third‑person plural subjects. 'sind' matches the plural pronoun 'sie' (they).
sie (they)
Lower‑case 'sie' is the third‑person plural pronoun meaning 'they'. Capitalised 'Sie' would be the formal 'you'.
bewusstlos (unconscious)
Adjective used predicatively after 'sein'. It stays in its base form, no ending is added.
🗨In Conversation
Warum sind sie bewusstlos?
Why are they unconscious?
Sie haben einen Schlaganfall erlitten.
They suffered a stroke.
✕Common Mistakes
Warum ist sie bewusstlos?
The verb must agree with the plural subject 'sie' (they). Use 'sind', not 'ist'.
Warum sind sie bewusstloses?
After 'sein' the adjective stays in its base form; no ending is added.
Warum sind Sie bewusstlos?
Capitalising 'Sie' changes the pronoun to the formal 'you', which would ask a different person.
↔Alternatives
Weshalb sind sie bewusstlos?
Why are they unconscious?
Wie kommt es, dass sie bewusstlos sind?
How come they are unconscious?
Was ist der Grund für ihre Bewusstlosigkeit?
What is the reason for their unconsciousness?
Cultural Tip
In German, 'bewusstlos' is the standard medical term. In everyday speech people often say 'ohne Bewusstsein' or 'aus dem Bewusstsein gefallen'. Remember the case distinction: lower‑case 'sie' = they, capital‑S 'Sie' = formal you. Mixing them changes the meaning entirely.