dove vai?
/ˈdo.ve ˈvaj/word by word
The English phrase "where are you going?" is translated into Italian as dove vai?
This phrase is a question used to ask someone about their current destination.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of dove (where) and vai (the second-person singular conjugation of the verb andare, meaning 'to go').
Which one should you use?
Unlike English, which uses the present continuous "are you going", Italian uses the simple present tense vai to express the same continuous action.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are asking a group of two or more people where they are going, use the plural form dove andate?
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of dove vai? is /ˈdo.ve ˈvaj/. It consists of 3 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The word dove comes from the Latin dē ubi, which literally means 'from where'.
- If you are asking a stranger, you should not use dove vai? but rather the formal dove va?
- Italian has a specific word, andare, for 'to go', but it is also used to describe how a situation is progressing, such as come va?, which means 'how is it going?'
Examples in context
- Mi scusi, potrebbe dirmi dove sta andando?Excuse me, could you please tell me where you are going?
- Dove vai?Where are you going?
- Dove vai di bello?Where are you going (that's so nice)?
- Scusa, ma dove vai?Excuse me, but where are you going?
Example conversation
Lorenzo sees Giulia leaving the house in a hurry.
- LorenzoCiao Giulia, dove vai?Hi Giulia, where are you going?
- GiuliaVado in centro a fare shopping.I am going downtown to go shopping.
- LorenzoPosso venire con te?Can I come with you?
- GiuliaSì, certo, andiamo!Yes, sure, let's go!
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (dove, vai) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dove, vai, CC BY-SA 4.0.
