¿Dónde está?
The English phrase "where is it?" is translated into Spanish as ¿Dónde está?
¿Dónde está? is used to ask for the location of a person or a thing. For example, you can use the polite version ¿Puede decirme dónde está? to ask "Can you tell me where it is?"
Which one should you use?
While ¿Dónde está? is used for the location of objects or people, you should use ¿Dónde es? when asking for the location of an event, such as a party or a concert.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb está is used because the phrase refers to the location of a thing or person rather than a characteristic. If the object you are looking for is plural, you must change the verb from está to están to form ¿Dónde están?
Did you know?
- When searching for something, a Spanish speaker might say ¿Dónde estará? using the future tense to express a feeling of uncertainty or a guess as to where the object might be.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, if you ask ¿Dónde está? about a person and they are not there, the responder might gesture with their chin or a subtle nod instead of pointing with a finger.
- The accent in dónde is a visual cue to the reader that the word is being used to ask a question rather than to provide information.
Examples in context
- Disculpe, ¿puede decirme dónde está el museo?Excuse me, can you tell me where the museum is?
- ¿Puede decirme dónde está la parada de autobús más cercana?Can you tell me where the nearest bus stop is?
- Oye, ¿dónde está el restaurante que mencionaste?Hey, where is the restaurant you mentioned?
- ¿Dónde está mi libro? No lo encuentro.Where is my book? I can't find it.
- ¿Sabes dónde está la fiesta de cumpleaños de Juan?Do you know where Juan's birthday party is?
- ¿Dónde queda la plaza principal?Where is the main square?
- ¿Sabes dónde queda la panadería?Do you know where the bakery is?
- ¿En dónde está el supermercado más cercano?Where is the nearest supermarket?
- ¿Sabes en dónde está la tienda de ropa?Do you know where the clothing store is?
- ¿Puede decirme dónde está el restaurante italiano?Can you tell me where the Italian restaurant is?
- Oye, ¿dónde está mi teléfono?Hey, where is my phone?
- ¿Dónde está el hotel que reservamos?Where is the hotel we booked?
- Disculpa, ¿en dónde está la parada de taxis?Excuse me, where is the taxi stand?
- Perdí la llave, ¿dónde está?I lost the key, where is it?
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are looking for a lost book in the living room.
- ElenaNo encuentro el libro, ¿dónde está?I can't find the book, where is it?
- JavierCreo que está en la mesa.I think it is on the table.
- ElenaNo, no está en la mesa.No, it is not on the table.
- JavierDéjame buscarlo, Elena.Let me look for it, Elena.
