Signification
Asking about a location.
Contexte culturel
Germans are very direct. If you ask 'Wo?', they will give you the most efficient path. Don't be surprised if they don't use much small talk before answering. In Vienna, you might hear 'Wo samma?' (Wo sind wir?) used colloquially to mean 'What's going on here?' or 'Where are we at?' in a figurative sense. Swiss German often uses 'Wo' as a relative pronoun more frequently in daily speech than High German does.
The Dative Rule
Always remember: 'Wo' is static and usually takes the Dative case in the answer.
Don't say 'Wo gehst du?'
This is the most common mistake for English speakers. Use 'Wohin' for movement!
Signification
Asking about a location.
The Dative Rule
Always remember: 'Wo' is static and usually takes the Dative case in the answer.
Don't say 'Wo gehst du?'
This is the most common mistake for English speakers. Use 'Wohin' for movement!
Wo denn?
Add 'denn' to make your question sound more natural and curious.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct question word for a static location.
___ ist mein Handy?
You are asking for the location of an object, so 'Wo' is correct.
Fill in the missing word.
Entschuldigung, ___ ist {der|m} Bahnhof?
Standard way to ask for directions.
Match the question to the situation.
You want to know where your friend lives.
'Wohnen' refers to a place of residence.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Wo ist {die|f} Katze? B: Sie ist ___ {dem|n} Sofa.
'Auf' means 'on top of' and is used with the dative 'dem' for location.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Wo vs. Wohin
Banque d exercices
4 exercices___ ist mein Handy?
You are asking for the location of an object, so 'Wo' is correct.
Entschuldigung, ___ ist {der|m} Bahnhof?
Standard way to ask for directions.
You want to know where your friend lives.
'Wohnen' refers to a place of residence.
A: Wo ist {die|f} Katze? B: Sie ist ___ {dem|n} Sofa.
'Auf' means 'on top of' and is used with the dative 'dem' for location.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
6 questionsIn a direct question, yes. In an indirect question like 'Ich weiß nicht, wo er ist', it comes in the middle.
Yes, to ask about their location (e.g., 'Wo ist Klaus?'), but not to ask who they are (that's 'Wer').
'Wo' is the question (Where?), 'Dort' is the answer (There).
This is a regional dialect thing (mostly Southern). In standard German, it's incorrect.
No, 'Wo' is an interrogative adverb and never changes its form.
Use 'Wohin?'. You can also split it: 'Wo gehst du hin?'.
Expressions liées
Wohin?
contrastWhere to?
Woher?
contrastWhere from?
Irgendwo
builds onSomewhere
Nirgendwo
builds onNowhere
