wo
where (interrogative) · where (relative)
Wo means 'where' and is used to ask about a place or location. It can also introduce relative clauses referring to a place.
What wo means
- where (interrogative) — Asking about a place or location.
- where (relative) — Introducing a relative clause referring to a place.
Heard in real German videos
Lines where wo was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Oh, wo will sie denn hin?Oh, where's she going?
- Wo gehst du eigentlich hin?Where are you going, anyway?
- Wo ist mein Schokoriegel hin?Where did my chocolate bar go?
Example sentences
- Wo wohnst du?Where do you live?
- Ich weiß nicht, wo er ist.I don't know where he is.
- Wo ist der Bahnhof?Where is the train station?
Common phrases
- wo auch immerwherever
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers often confuse 'wo' with 'wer' (who) because they look similar. Remember: 'wo' = where, 'wer' = who.
Don’t confuse it with
- wer — Wer means 'who', while wo means 'where'.
- wann — Wann means 'when', while wo means 'where'.
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between 'wo' and 'wohin'?
'Wo' asks about a location (where?), while 'wohin' asks about a direction or destination (where to?).
Can 'wo' be used as a relative pronoun?
Yes, 'wo' can introduce a relative clause referring to a place, e.g., 'Das ist das Haus, wo ich wohne.' However, in formal German, 'in dem' or 'wo' are both used, but 'wo' is more colloquial.