¿adónde vas?
The English phrase "where do you go?" is translated into Spanish as ¿adónde vas?
This phrase is used to ask someone about their current destination.
Which one should you use?
You can also use ¿A dónde te diriges? to specifically ask "Where are you heading?" or the more formal ¿Cuál es su destino?, which means "What is your destination?"
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico and parts of Central America, it is common to use ¿Para dónde vas? to mean "Where are you going?"
How does it change in a sentence?
The word vas is the second-person singular present indicative of the verb ir (to go). To ask the same question to a group of people, change vas to van to form ¿adónde van? (where do you plural go?). To use the formal "you" (usted), change vas to va to form ¿adónde va usted? (where do you formal go?).
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, asking ¿adónde vas? when someone is leaving a room can be a polite way of saying 'goodbye' or 'take care' rather than a literal request for their coordinates.
- If you are asking a group of people in Spain, you would change the phrase to ¿adónde vais?, using the 'vosotros' form, whereas in Latin America you would almost always use ¿adónde van?
- While vas means 'you go', the verb it comes from, ir, is one of the few Spanish verbs that changes its entire stem when conjugated.
Examples in context
- ¡Hola María! ¿Adónde vas tan temprano? / Voy al trabajo. ¿Y tú?Hi Maria! Where are you going so early? / I'm going to work. And you?
- ¿A dónde te diriges en esa hermosa bicicleta? / Solamente voy a la tienda del barrio para hacer algunas compras.Where are you heading on that beautiful bike? / I'm just going to the neighborhood store to do some shopping.
- ¿Adónde vas con tanta prisa?Where are you going in such a hurry?
- Veo que tienes maletas, ¿adónde vas?I see you have suitcases, where are you going?
Example conversation
Alejandro sees Lucía leaving the house.
- AlejandroHola, Lucía. ¿Adónde vas?Hi, Lucia. Where are you going?
- LucíaVoy al supermercado.I'm going to the supermarket.
- Alejandro¿Necesitas ayuda con las bolsas?Do you need help with the bags?
- LucíaNo, gracias, Alejandro.No, thanks, Alejandro.
