A0 Questions 5 min read Easy

Asking 'Where' and 'What' (Где & Что)

Ask questions by placing Где or Что before a noun without using 'is' or 'are'.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

To ask questions in Russian, use 'Где' for location and 'Что' for objects, placing them at the start of your sentence.

  • Use 'Где' (Gde) to ask about location: Где ресторан? (Where is the restaurant?)
  • Use 'Что' (Chto) to ask about things: Что это? (What is this?)
  • Question words usually go at the beginning of the sentence for neutral emphasis.
Где/Что + [Subject/Verb] + ?

Overview

You are standing in the middle of Red Square. Your phone battery just hit 1%. You need to find your hotel, or maybe just a decent coffee. In English, you would ask, "Where is the hotel?" or "What is this?" In Russian, we cut the fluff. No "is," no "are," no drama. You just need two magic words: Где and Что. These are your survival tools for navigating everything from Moscow's metro to a menu at a trendy vegan cafe. Russian grammar at the A0 level is surprisingly kind to you. It lets you skip the verbs and get straight to the point. If you can point at something and say one of these words, you are already communicating. It is like the ultimate linguistic hack for travelers and tech-savvy expats. Just remember, Russian speakers value directness, so don't feel rude for keeping it short.

How This Grammar Works

In English, we are obsessed with the verb "to be." We say "Where IS the pizza?" or "What ARE those?" Russian doesn't bother with "is" or "are" in the present tense. It is like the language is constantly on a battery-saver mode. You simply place the question word at the start and follow it with the thing you are curious about. This creates a "Zero Copula" structure. You don't need to conjugate anything yet. You don't need to worry about complex tenses. You just need the noun in its basic form (the Nominative case). It’s basically like texting in shorthand, but it's perfectly correct grammar. Think of it as the "search bar" of the Russian language. You type your keyword, and the world answers.

Formation Pattern

1
Creating these questions is easier than ordering a latte on an app. Follow these three steps:
2
Choose your question word: Где (Gde) for location or Что (Shto) for objects.
3
Pick your noun: Use the name of the object or person you are looking for.
4
Add a rising intonation: Russian doesn't use auxiliary verbs like "do," so your voice does the heavy lifting. Raise the pitch of your voice at the end of the sentence.
5
For example:
6
Где + метро = Где метро? (Where is the metro?)
7
Что + это = Что это? (What is this?)
8
Pro tip: The word это (eto) is your best friend. It means "this" or "it." If you don't know the name of something, just point and say Что это?. It’s the universal "What’s that thing?" for every situation from a museum to a flea market.

When To Use It

Use Где when you are lost or looking for something specific. This is your go-to for Google Maps moments. Use it for people (Где Иван?), places (Где туалет?), or your misplaced AirPods (Где наушники?).
Use Что when you encounter something mystery-flavored or a strange icon on your screen. Use it for objects (Что это?), events (Что сегодня? - What is today/on today?), or even digital content (Что в меню? - What's on the menu?).
Whether you are checking a TikTok caption or asking a waiter about a weird-looking soup, these words are your bread and butter. You will use them in 90% of your initial interactions in Russia. They are the building blocks of curiosity. Don't be afraid to use them often; Russians expect beginners to ask lots of questions. Just don't ask "Where is the library?" unless you actually plan on reading. That joke is older than the internet.

Common Mistakes

The biggest trap for English speakers is trying to shove the word "is" into the sentence. You might want to say Где есть метро?. Stop right there. While есть (est') means "is/exists," we almost never use it in these simple questions. It sounds like you are asking "Does a metro exist in the universe?" rather than "Where is the station?"
Another classic mistake is the pronunciation of Что. It is spelled with a 'Ch' sound (Ч), but everyone pronounces it with a 'Sh' sound (Ш). It should sound like "Shto," not "Chto." If you say "Chto," you sound like a 19th-century textbook.
Lastly, don't forget the question mark in your voice. Since there is no verb change, a flat tone makes Где метро sound like a statement of fact, which might confuse people. You aren't telling them where the metro is; you're asking!

Contrast With Similar Patterns

You might eventually run into Куда (Kuda). This also translates to "Where," but it's for movement. Где is for static locations (Where is it sitting?), while Куда is for direction (Where is it going?). At A0, stick to Где. If you ask Где ты? (Where are you?), you are asking for their current GPS coordinates.
Also, don't confuse Что (What) with Кто (Kto - Who). If you point at a person and say Что это?, you are calling them an object, which is a great way to make enemies fast. Use Кто это? for people and Что это? for everything else. Think of Что as the "thing" word and Где as the "map" word. Easy, right?

Quick FAQ

Q

Do I need to change the noun ending?

Not at this level! For simple "Where/What" questions, keep the noun in its dictionary form.

Q

Is it okay to just say Где? by itself?

Yes, if the context is clear (like pointing at a missing item), it's totally natural.

Q

How do I say "What is your name?"

That actually uses a different structure (Как вас зовут?), so don't try to use Что for names!

Q

Can I use Что to ask "What happened?"

Yes! A simple Что случилось? works, but just Что? with a shocked face works too.

Q

Is Где used for digital locations?

Totally. You can ask Где ссылка? (Where is the link?) in a Zoom chat.

3. Interrogative Pronoun Usage

Question Word Russian English Usage Context
Where
Где
Where
Location
What
Что
What
Objects/Actions

Meanings

These are the fundamental interrogative pronouns used to seek information about place and identity/objects.

1

Location

Asking for the physical position of an object or person.

“Где метро?”

“Где отель?”

2

Object/Identity

Asking for the name or nature of an object.

“Что это?”

“Что ты ешь?”

Reference Table

Reference table for Asking 'Where' and 'What' (Где & Что)
Russian Word Pronunciation English Meaning Usage Context
Где
Gde
Where
Location of objects/people
Что
Shto
What
Identifying objects/things
Это
Eto
This / It
Pointing at something
Кто
Kto
Who
Identifying people
Тут
Tut
Here
Indicating nearby location
Там
Tam
There
Indicating distant location

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Где находится отель?

Где находится отель? (Travel)

Neutral
Где отель?

Где отель? (Travel)

Informal
Где отель?

Где отель? (Travel)

Slang
Отель где?

Отель где? (Travel)

When to use What vs Where

Questions

Где (Where)

  • отель hotel
  • метро metro
  • туалет toilet

Что (What)

  • это this
  • суп soup
  • фильм movie

English vs Russian Structure

English (3 words)
Where Question
is Verb
the bank? Noun
Russian (2 words)
Где Question
[Zero Verb] Skip it!
банк? Noun

Picking the Right Word

1

Are you asking about a location?

YES
Use 'Где'
NO
Proceed to next step
2

Are you asking about an object?

YES
Use 'Что'
NO ↓

Essential Survival Nouns

📍

Places (use Где)

  • • Аэропорт
  • • Музей
  • • Парк
📦

Things (use Что)

  • • Пицца
  • • Билет
  • • Кофе
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Examples by Level

1

Где метро?

Where is the metro?

2

Что это?

What is this?

3

Где ресторан?

Where is the restaurant?

4

Что там?

What is there?

1

Где ты работаешь?

Where do you work?

2

Что ты читаешь?

What are you reading?

3

Где мой телефон?

Where is my phone?

4

Что ты хочешь?

What do you want?

1

Я не знаю, где он.

I don't know where he is.

2

Что ты имеешь в виду?

What do you mean?

3

Где бы ты хотел пообедать?

Where would you like to have lunch?

4

Что случилось?

What happened?

1

Где бы я ни был, я помню о доме.

Wherever I am, I remember home.

2

Что ни говори, это важно.

Whatever you say, it is important.

3

Где именно находится офис?

Where exactly is the office?

4

Что же мне делать?

What am I to do?

1

Где уж нам до них.

We are nowhere near their level.

2

Что до меня, я согласен.

As for me, I agree.

3

Где тонко, там и рвется.

It breaks where it is thin.

4

Что за странный вопрос?

What kind of strange question is that?

1

Где бы ни скрывался враг, мы его найдем.

Wherever the enemy hides, we will find him.

2

Что ни день, то новые проблемы.

Every single day brings new problems.

3

Где же истина?

Where is the truth?

4

Что бы ни случилось, не сдавайся.

Whatever happens, don't give up.

Easily Confused

Asking 'Where' and 'What' (Где & Что) vs Где vs Куда

Learners use 'Где' for motion.

Asking 'Where' and 'What' (Где & Что) vs Что vs Кто

Learners use 'Что' for people.

Asking 'Where' and 'What' (Где & Что) vs Что vs Какой

Learners use 'Что' for descriptions.

Common Mistakes

✗

Что ресторан?

✓

Где ресторан?

Using 'What' for location.
✗

Где это?

✓

Что это?

Using 'Where' for an object.
✗

Что ты есть?

✓

Что ты ешь?

Verb conjugation error.
✗

Где ты?

✓

Где ты?

Actually correct, but often mispronounced.
✗

Что ты живешь?

✓

Где ты живешь?

Using 'What' for location.
✗

Где ты делаешь?

✓

Что ты делаешь?

Using 'Where' for an action.
✗

Что есть ресторан?

✓

Где ресторан?

Adding unnecessary verbs.
✗

Где ты хочешь?

✓

Что ты хочешь?

Using 'Where' for an object.
✗

Что ты был?

✓

Где ты был?

Using 'What' for a location.
✗

Где ты читаешь?

✓

Что ты читаешь?

Using 'Where' for an object.
✗

Что ты идешь?

✓

Куда ты идешь?

Using 'What' instead of 'Where to'.
✗

Где ты купил?

✓

Что ты купил?

Using 'Where' instead of 'What'.
✗

Что ты пошел?

✓

Куда ты пошел?

Using 'What' instead of 'Where to'.

Sentence Patterns

Где ___?

Что это ___?

Что ты ___?

Где ты ___?

Real World Usage

Travel constant

Где метро?

Dining very common

Что это?

Social Media common

Что делаешь?

Job Interview occasional

Где вы работали?

Texting constant

Где ты?

Food Delivery common

Что в составе?

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💡

The 'Shto' Secret

Always pronounce 'Что' with a 'Sh' sound. Saying 'Chto' is the quickest way to out yourself as a beginner reading from a textbook.
⚠️

Skip the 'Is'

Don't translate 'is' or 'are'. 'Где туалет?' is perfect. 'Где есть туалет?' sounds like a philosophical inquiry into the existence of plumbing.
🎯

Intonation is Key

Since there's no verb change, make sure your voice goes UP at the end of the sentence so people know it's a question.

Smart Tips

Always start with 'Где'.

Ресторан где? → Где ресторан?

Use 'Что' at the start.

Это что? → Что это?

Keep it short.

Где находится этот ресторан? → Где ресторан?

Use polite intonation.

Где метро? → Где метро, пожалуйста?

Pronunciation

/ʂto/

Что

Pronounced 'Shto' not 'Ch-to'.

/gdʲe/

Где

The 'd' is soft.

Question Intonation

Где отель↗?

Rising pitch at the end indicates a question.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Gde is for 'Go-to' places, Shto is for 'Stuff'.

Visual Association

Imagine a map for 'Где' and a box of mystery items for 'Что'.

Rhyme

Where is the place? Use 'Где' with grace. What is the thing? 'Что' will bring.

Story

Ivan is lost. He asks 'Где метро?' (Where is the metro?). He finds a strange bag. He asks 'Что это?' (What is this?). He is now a master of questions.

Word Web

ГдеЧтоКтоКогдаПочемуКак

Challenge

Ask 5 questions about objects and places in your room right now using 'Где' and 'Что'.

Cultural Notes

Direct questions are common and not considered rude.

Similar usage, but 'Де' is used instead of 'Где'.

Uses 'Дзе' for location.

These are Proto-Slavic interrogative pronouns.

Conversation Starters

“

Где ты живешь?

“

Что ты любишь?

“

Где ты был вчера?

“

Что ты думаешь об этом?

Journal Prompts

Write about your city. Where is your favorite place?
Write about your favorite food. What is it?
Describe your day. What did you do and where were you?
Reflect on a trip. Where did you go and what did you see?

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct question word for location.

___ станция?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Где
We use 'Где' to ask about the location of the station.
Which sentence is the natural way to ask 'What is this?' in Russian? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Что это?
Russian doesn't use the verb 'is' in this context, so 'Что это?' is correct.
Find and fix the mistake in this sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Где есть мой паспорт?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Где мой паспорт?
Remove 'есть' to make the sentence sound natural and correct.

Score: /3

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

___ ресторан?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Где
Asking for location.
Choose the correct word. Multiple Choice

___ это?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Что
Asking for an object.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Что ресторан?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Где ресторан?
Location requires 'Где'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

это / Что / ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Что это?
Standard order.
Translate to Russian. Translation

Where is the park?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Где парк?
Correct translation.
Match the question word. Match Pairs

Где -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Place
Gde is for place.
Choose the correct word. Multiple Choice

___ ты делаешь?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Что
Action requires 'Что'.
Fill in the blank.

___ ты живешь?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Где
Location requires 'Где'.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank. Fill in the Blank

___ это?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Что
Put the words in the correct order to ask 'Where is the hotel?' Sentence Reorder

отель / Где / ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Где отель?
Translate 'Where is the coffee?' to Russian. Translation

Where is the coffee?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Где кофе?
Match the Russian word to its English meaning. Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Где - Where, Что - What, Кто - Who, Это - This
How do you ask 'Where is the Wi-Fi?' Multiple Choice

Choose one:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Где вай-фай?
Fix the pronunciation habit: How is 'Что' actually said? Error Correction

I say 'Chto'. Is that right?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: No, say 'Shto'.
Fill in the blank for 'Where are the keys?' Fill in the Blank

___ ключи?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Где
Translate 'What is that?' Translation

What is that?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Что это?
Reorder: 'Where is the bus?' Sentence Reorder

автобус / Где / ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Где автобус?
You see a strange person. What do you ask? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct word:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Кто это?

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

It is a historical spelling convention in Russian.

No, use 'Кто' for people.

It can be, use 'Что, пожалуйста?' for politeness.

It is flexible, but start with the question word for clarity.

Use gestures or point.

Yes, like 'Кто', 'Когда', 'Почему'.

Yes, they are standard.

No, they are invariant.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Dónde / Qué

Russian doesn't use auxiliary verbs.

French high

Où / Quoi

Russian is more direct.

German high

Wo / Was

Russian word order is freer.

Japanese moderate

Doko / Nani

Sentence structure is reversed.

Arabic moderate

Ayna / Madha

Arabic has gender agreement.

Chinese low

Nali / Shenme

Russian moves them to the front.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
Russian Numbers 1-10: Counting to Ten (один to десять)

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