how so

Betekenis (Engels)

Phrase

1. How?; In what way?
2. Why?; For what reason?

Adv

1. How; In what way; however
2. Why; For what reason.
3. Used as an intensifier.

Vertalings

come mai

Etimologie (Engels)

Geërf van Middle English: how-so

Verwante met Fries: hoesa

Verwante met Nederlands: hoezo

Verwante met Duits: wieso

Verwante met Sweeds: hurså

In summary

From ellipsis of "how is that so?", and also continuing Middle English how-so, hou-so, hu se (“however, in whatsoever way”). Compare West Frisian hoesa (“how so, why”), Dutch hoezo (“how so, why”), German Low German woso (“how so, why”), German wieso (“how so, why”), Swedish hurså (“how so”). By surface analysis, how + so.