What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of Où (where), est (is) and l'hôtel (the hotel).
Which one should you use?
You can use the form Où se trouve l'hôtel ? to ask "Where is the hotel located?", which is a slightly more formal way to ask for a location than Où est…
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For more formal situations, you can use Où se trouve l'hôtel, s'il vous plaît? (Where is the hotel, please?), Pouvez-vous me dire où se trouve l'hôtel? (Can you tell me where the hotel is?) or Je cherche l'hôtel, pourriez-vous m'indiquer où il se trouve? (I'm looking for the hotel, could you indicate where it is?). If you are in an informal setting, you can say Est-ce que tu sais où se trouve l'hôtel? (Do you know where the hotel is?) or Je cherche l'hôtel, tu peux me dire où il est? (I'm looking for the hotel, can you tell me where it is?).
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase l'hôtel, the definite article le becomes l' because the word begins with a silent h and a vowel sound.
Did you know?
- The word hôtel is an unexpected relative of the English words 'host' and 'hospital'. All three share a common historical root relating to the act of receiving and hosting guests.
- French has a specific word, dépaysement, to describe the feeling of being in a strange new place, such as when you first arrive at your hôtel in a foreign country.
- Aside from Jésus-Christ, the word est is the only word in modern French where a silent internal 's' is kept in the spelling.
Examples in context
- Où est l'hôtel ?Where is the hotel?This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase Où est l'hôtel ?Tatoeba #2508115 by Aiji, translation #2499505 by CM
- Excusez-moi, où se trouve l'hôtel, s'il vous plaît?Excuse me, where is the hotel, please?
- Je cherche l'hôtel, tu peux me dire où il est?I'm looking for the hotel, can you tell me where it is?
- Excusez-moi, où est l'hôtel ?Excuse me, where is the hotel?
Example conversation
Lucas is asking Chloé for directions on a street.
- LucasOù est l'hôtel ?Where is the hotel?
- ChloéIl est juste là-bas.It is right over there.
- LucasMerci beaucoup, Chloé.Thank you very much, Chloé.
- ChloéDe rien, Lucas.You're welcome, Lucas.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries est, où, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
