où est-il ?
The English phrase "where is it?" is expressed in French as où est-il ?
This phrase is a question used to ask for the location of a specific masculine object or person.
Which one should you use?
Depending on the context, où est-il ? can mean both "where is it?" for a masculine noun or "where is he?" If the object or person being located is grammatically feminine, you should use où est-elle ? instead.
Did you know?
- When asking où est-il ? about a person, the speaker might accompany the phrase with a shrug and a pout, a gesture known as the 'Gallic shrug' that can imply 'I have no idea'.
- In very formal or literary French, the phrase où se trouve-t-il ? is preferred over où est-il ? to avoid the simplicity of the verb 'to be'.
- In casual spoken French, people rarely say où est-il ? Instead, they often move the question word to the end and say il est où ?
Examples in context
- Il est où le restaurant ?Where is the restaurant?
- Elle est où ma clé ?Where is my key?
- C'est où la plage ?Where is the beach?
- C'est où le marché ?Where is the market?
Example conversation
Nathan is looking for his phone in the living room.
- NathanChloé, je ne trouve pas mon téléphone. Où est-il ?Chloé, I can't find my phone. Where is it?
- ChloéIl est sur la table, Nathan.It is on the table, Nathan.
- NathanAh, je ne le voyais pas !Ah, I didn't see it!
- ChloéTu es très distrait aujourd'hui.You are very distracted today.
