How to Say "Where Is" in Greek

πού είναι

poú eínai

The English phrase "where is" is translated into Greek as πού είναι (poú eínai).

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of πού, meaning "where" and είναι, meaning "is".

The form πού είναι remains the same regardless of whether the subject is masculine, feminine or neuter.

poú eínai

The verb είναι in this phrase likely evolved from ἔνι, a Byzantine short form meaning 'to be in' rather than the original Ancient Greek infinitive.
In modern Greek, πού είναι can be used to express a sense of loss or disappearance, similar to saying 'Where on earth did it go?' when something vanishes unexpectedly.
In rapid, casual conversation, Greeks often omit the verb entirely and simply say πού followed by the noun to ask 'where is'.

Πού είναι ο Τομ;
Where is Tom?
This example shows how to use πού είναι to ask for a person's location.
Tatoeba #5563094 by Zeus, translation #2240332 by CK
Πού είναι η Λόρι;
Where is Laurie?
Tatoeba #2499498 by Zeus, translation #2499490 by CN
Πού είναι το πλοίο;
Where is the ship?
This example shows how to use πού είναι to ask for an object's location.
Tatoeba #2632963 by Zeus, translation #5162297 by CarpeLanam
Πού βρίσκεται η τουαλέτα, – Poú vrísketai i toualéta?
Where is the bathroom?
58 more sentences on Tatoeba

Eleni and Giorgos are looking for the car keys.

Ελένη Eleni

Γιώργο, πού είναι τα κλειδιά;
Giorgo, pou einai ta klidya?
Giorgos, where are the keys?
Γιώργος Giorgos

Νομίζω ότι είναι στο τραπέζι.
Nomizo oti einai sto trapezi.
I think they are on the table.
Ελένη Eleni

Δεν τα βλέπω. Πού είναι ακριβώς;
Den ta vlepo. Pou einai akrivos?
I don't see them. Where exactly are they?
Γιώργος Giorgos

Κοίτα δίπλα στο τηλέφωνο.
Koita dipla sto tilefono.
Look next to the phone.

Sources

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