Which one should you use?
The form with an accent, dónde, is used for questions or exclamations. In contrast, the form without an accent, donde, acts as a relative pronoun to link different parts of a sentence together.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The phrase ¿Che, dónde cae? is an informal way to ask where something is in Argentina.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to express movement toward a destination, the preposition a is often combined with dónde to form adónde (to where). To ask where someone or something is from, the preposition de is placed before the word to form de dónde (from where).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈdonde/
What mistakes should you avoid?
When writing questions, ensure you include the accent mark on dónde. Forgetting the accent changes the word from an interrogative into the relative pronoun donde, which is a mistake.
Did you know?
- While English uses the word 'where' for both a destination and a location, Spanish often distinguishes them strictly. The word adónde is used specifically for movement towards a place, whereas dónde is for a static position.
- Spanish speakers do not say they 'come from' a place using a verb of motion. Instead, they use de dónde with the verb 'to be', effectively saying they 'are from' that location.
- In many parts of Latin America, you might hear someone use por dónde instead of a dónde to ask for directions. While a dónde specifically asks for the destination, por dónde asks for the general route or path one should take.
Examples in context
- ¿A dónde fue él?Where did he go?This sentence is useful for asking about a person's destination using dónde.Tatoeba #1213965 by marcelostockle, translation #292031 by CK
- No sé dónde está.I don't know where it is.This sentence is useful for asking about the location of an object using dónde.Tatoeba #746563 by Shishir, translation #2361278 by CK
- ¿De dónde es Tom?Where is Tom from?This sentence is useful for asking about someone's origin using dónde.Tatoeba #2224559 by Shishir, translation #5576968 by CK
- ¿Dónde está el libro?Where is the book?
- ¿Dónde está la playa?Where is the beach?
- ¿Dónde está Juan?Where is Juan?
- ¿Dónde estabas ayer?Where were you yesterday?
- ¿Dónde vas a dormir?Where are you going to sleep?
- 2114 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are looking for their lost keys.
- Elena¿Dónde están las llaves?Where are the keys?
- MateoNo sé, Elena.I don't know, Elena.
- Elena¿Dónde las dejaste tú?Where did you leave them?
- MateoCreo que están en la mesa.I think they are on the table.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “where” translations and entries dónde, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
