wo
where
An interrogative adverb used to ask about a place or position.
EXAMPLE
Wo wohnst du?
Where do you live?
wo
where
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Meanings
wo
where
A relative adverb that introduces a subordinate clause referring to a place in the main clause.
EXAMPLE
Das ist das Haus, wo ich aufgewachsen bin.
That is the house where I grew up.
wo
where
Used colloquially instead of a relative pronoun (such as der, die, das) to introduce a subordinate clause that does not refer to a place.
EXAMPLE
Ich suche den Film, wo der Hauptdarsteller am Ende stirbt.
I'm looking for the film where the lead actor dies at the end.
wo
whereas / while
Used more rarely as a conjunction to express contrast or simultaneity, similar to 'während' (while) or 'wohingegen' (whereas).
EXAMPLE
Sie gibt ihr Geld für Kleidung aus, wo sie doch eigentlich sparen sollte.
She spends her money on clothes, while she really ought to be saving.
Usage tips
False friend
'Wo' looks like the English 'who', but it always asks about a place (where?). For a person, German uses the question word 'wer' (who).
EXAMPLE
Wo ist der nächste Supermarkt?
Where is the nearest supermarket?
Word order
As a question word, 'wo' introduces a W-question with the verb in position 2. As a relative adverb or conjunction, it introduces a subordinate clause in which the conjugated verb comes at the end.
EXAMPLE
Wo beginnt der Wanderweg?
Where does the hiking trail begin?
Colloquial use
In spoken language, 'wo' is often used as a universal relative pronoun instead of 'der', 'die', or 'das'. This use is considered stylistically poor in written language and formal contexts.
EXAMPLE
Kennst du den Film, wo ein Hund die Hauptrolle spielt?
Do you know the film where a dog plays the main role?
Reference to a place
As a correct relative adverb, 'wo' must refer to a place or a location expression in the main clause. Typical reference words are 'Stadt' (city), 'Haus' (house), 'Platz' (place), 'Land' (country), or adverbs like 'dort' (there).
EXAMPLE
Wir fahren nach Berlin, wo meine Tante wohnt.
We are going to Berlin, where my aunt lives.
Compare with
wo vs während
during / while
“Während” and “wo” can express simultaneity in a subordinate clause. “Während” is the neutral standard choice, whereas “wo” is less common in this use and tends to be colloquial. In a normal written or spoken sentence, “während” is therefore usually the better choice.
wo
Wo ich das Abendessen kochte, hörte meine Schwester im Wohnzimmer Musik.
While I was cooking dinner, my sister listened to music in the living room.
während
Während ich das Abendessen kochte, hörte meine Schwester im Wohnzimmer Musik.
While I was cooking dinner, my sister listened to music in the living room.
In real life
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