01
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
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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 der
the
'der' and 'wo' can both introduce a subordinate clause. 'der' is a relative pronoun and here refers to a masculine noun, for example to 'der Mann' (the man). In Standard German, 'wo' refers to a place, for example to 'der Park' (the park) or 'die Stadt' (the city). They can be confused because in colloquial speech you sometimes hear 'wo' even when no place is meant. In good Standard German, however, you do not say 'der Mann, wo ...', but 'der Mann, der ...'. Remember: for people and things, use the appropriate relative pronoun; for places, 'wo' can be natural.
wo
Im Urlaub zeigt dir Lisa den Strand, wo sie als Kind oft gespielt hat.
On vacation, Lisa will show you the beach where she often played as a child.
der
Der Arzt, der heute Dienst hat, spricht zuerst mit der Patientin.
The doctor who is on duty today will speak with the patient first.
In real life
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