¿adónde vamos?
/aˈdonde ˈbamos/word by word
The English phrase "where are we going?" is translated into Spanish as ¿adónde vamos?
This phrase is a question used to ask about the destination of a trip or movement. You can also use ¿Cuál es nuestro destino? when specifically discussing planned trips or journeys.
What does it mean word for word?
The word adónde is a combination of a (to) and dónde (where).
Which one should you use?
While ¿adónde vamos? specifically implies movement toward a destination (to where), ¿dónde vamos? is also frequently used in many dialects to mean the same thing in casual speech.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The variation ¿Pa' dónde vamos? is common in some Latin American countries, such as Mexico and parts of Central America.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb vamos is the first-person plural present indicative of ir, which can be used to express both the present tense "we go" and the present continuous "we are going".
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈdonde ˈbamos/
Did you know?
- The word vamos evolved from the Latin subjunctive form 'vādāmus' rather than the indicative. This means that a word now used for simple facts actually started as a way to express a wish or possibility.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, asking ¿adónde vamos? can be a playful or sarcastic way to ask someone what their plan is when they are acting aimlessly.
- The word vamos is often used as a generic exclamation of encouragement, similar to 'Come on!' in English. This means that while it is part of the phrase for 'where are we going?', it carries a whole other set of social functions.
Examples in context
- No sé, ¿adónde vamos?I don't know, where are we going?
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are sitting in a car ready to leave.
- AlejandroElena, ¿adónde vamos?Elena, where are we going?
- ElenaVamos a la playa, Alejandro.We are going to the beach, Alejandro.
- Alejandro¡Qué buena idea!What a great idea!
- ElenaSí, será un día divertido.Yes, it will be a fun day.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (adónde, vamos) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries adónde, vamos, CC BY-SA 4.0.
