dov'è questo?
The English phrase "where is this?" is translated into Italian as dov'è questo?
This phrase is a question used to ask for the location of a specific object or place.
Which one should you use?
You should use dove sono questi? when asking about the location of multiple masculine objects, or dove sono queste? when asking about multiple feminine objects, instead of the singular dov'è questo?
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the phrase changes depending on the gender of the noun you are referring to. Use the default form dov'è questo? for masculine nouns or general situations, but change it to dov'è questa? if the object is a feminine noun.
Did you know?
- If you are asking dov'è questo? about a specific location or a building, using dove si trova? is often more natural because it literally translates to 'where does it find itself?'
- When asking dov'è questo?, an Italian speaker will often accompany the phrase with a specific hand gesture, such as a pinched grouping of fingers, to emphasize the exact point they are inquiring about.
- The word questo evolved from the Latin phrase eccum iste, which essentially combines a pointer like 'look here' with the word for 'that'.
Examples in context
- Scusa, sai dov'è il Colosseo?Do you know where the Colosseum is?
- Mi scusi, può indicarmi dove si trova questo posto?Excuse me, can you tell me where this place is located?
Example conversation
Martina is showing Francesco a photo of a restaurant.
- MartinaFrancesco, guarda questa foto. Dov'è questo?Francesco, look at this photo. Where is this?
- FrancescoPenso che sia in centro.I think it is downtown.
- MartinaDavvero? Vorrei andarci stasera.Really? I would like to go there tonight.
- FrancescoCerto, posso accompagnarti io.Sure, I can go with you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries questo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
