How to Say “Where is” in German

When learning a new language, asking basic questions is essential. In German, “Where is…” helps in everyday conversations. Whether finding a store or a landmark, knowing this phrase is crucial. In this blog, we’ll teach you how to use “Where is” in German effectively. We’ll also include tips for practicing German greetings. These basics will boost your confidence in speaking German.

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How to Say “Where is” in German

The phrase “Where is” in German is translated as “Wo ist?”. This is a simple and direct way to ask for the location of something. German sentence structures are somewhat similar to English, so this phrase is easy to remember.

Breaking Down “Wo ist”:

• “Wo” means “Where.”
• “Ist” means “Is.”

Examples:

• Wo ist der Bahnhof? – Where is the train station?
• Wo ist das Hotel? – Where is the hotel?
• Wo ist die Toilette? – Where is the restroom?

Important Note:

In German, nouns have different genders (masculine, feminine, and neutral). Therefore, the article (der, die, das) changes depending on the gender of the noun:

• Der for masculine nouns (e.g., der Bahnhof – the train station).
• Die for feminine nouns (e.g., die Toilette – the restroom).
• Das for neutral nouns (e.g., das Hotel – the hotel).

General Structure:

• Wo ist + [article] + [noun]?

Let’s look at more examples to get comfortable with this phrase.

More Examples:

• Wo ist die Apotheke? – Where is the pharmacy?
• Wo ist das Restaurant? – Where is the restaurant?
• Wo ist der Supermarkt? – Where is the supermarket?
• Wo ist das Museum? – Where is the museum?

Plural Form:

When asking about multiple places or objects, use “sind” instead of “ist”. For example:

• Wo sind die Toiletten? – Where are the restrooms?
• Wo sind die Museen? – Where are the museums?

This simple adjustment allows you to ask about the location of more than one place or thing.

Common Places and Phrases to Practice

Once you’ve mastered how to say “Where is?” it’s time to build your vocabulary by learning the names of common places. These will help you create useful questions and feel more comfortable when asking for directions in German.

List of Common Places (with Articles):

1. Der Bahnhof – The train station
2. Die Schule – The school
3. Das Hotel – The hotel
4. Der Flughafen – The airport
5. Die Bushaltestelle – The bus stop
6. Das Krankenhaus – The hospital
7. Das Café – The café
8. Der Park – The park
9. Die Kirche – The church
10. Das Kino – The cinema
11. Der Supermarkt – The supermarket
12. Das Museum – The museum
13. Die Bibliothek – The library
14. Das Einkaufszentrum – The shopping mall

Sample Sentences for Practice:

• Wo ist die Schule? – Where is the school?
• Wo ist das Kino? – Where is the cinema?
• Wo ist der Flughafen? – Where is the airport?
• Wo ist der Park? – Where is the park?

Special Situations:

In some cases, you may need to be more specific or polite when asking where something is. Here are a few additional phrases you can use:

• Könnten Sie mir bitte sagen, wo… ist? – Could you please tell me where… is?
• Entschuldigung, wissen Sie, wo… ist? – Excuse me, do you know where… is?

Examples:

• Könnten Sie mir bitte sagen, wo das Hotel ist? – Could you please tell me where the hotel is?
• Entschuldigung, wissen Sie, wo der Supermarkt ist? – Excuse me, do you know where the supermarket is?

By practicing these different ways to ask where something is, you’ll feel more comfortable using the language in real-life situations.

Practicing German Greetings: Tips and Exercises

In addition to learning how to say “Where is…” in German, it’s equally important to practice greetings and familiarize yourself with common phrases. This will help you communicate better, especially in everyday situations. In this section, we’ll give you simple exercises to practice both greetings and “Where is…” phrases in German.

Common German Greetings

Let’s look at a few essential greetings you’ll encounter:

1. Hallo – Hello
   This is the most common, informal way to say hello.
2. Guten Morgen – Good morning
   Use this until around midday.
3. Guten Tag – Good day
   This can be used throughout the day, similar to “Good afternoon.”
4. Guten Abend – Good evening
   Use this greeting in the evening, typically after 6 PM.
5. Tschüss – Goodbye
   This is the informal way to say goodbye. You can also say “Auf Wiedersehen” for a more formal goodbye.

Greeting Tips:

• When greeting someone formally, use “Sie” instead of “du”.
  Example: “Wie geht es Ihnen?” (How are you? – formal) versus “Wie geht’s dir?” (How are you? – informal).
• Always say “Guten Tag” when entering a store or restaurant, even if you’re just browsing. It’s considered polite and respectful.
• When leaving a shop or a friend’s house, saying “Auf Wiedersehen” or “Tschüss” is a must!

Additional Useful Phrases in German

Now that you’ve learned how to say “Where is…” and some common greetings, here are a few more phrases to help you in everyday situations:

Asking for Help or Information

1. Können Sie mir helfen? – Can you help me?
2. Ich suche… – I’m looking for…
3. Wie komme ich zu…? – How do I get to…?
4. Entschuldigung, wo ist…? – Excuse me, where is…?
5. Haben Sie eine Karte? – Do you have a map?

Important Questions While Traveling

1. Wann fährt der Zug? – When does the train leave?
2. Wie viel kostet das? – How much does that cost?
3. Wo ist die nächste Bushaltestelle? – Where is the nearest bus stop?
4. Wo kann ich ein Taxi finden? – Where can I find a taxi?

Phrases for Making Small Talk

1. Wie heißt du? – What’s your name? (informal)
2. Wie heißen Sie? – What’s your name? (formal)
3. Woher kommst du? – Where are you from? (informal)
4. Woher kommen Sie? – Where are you from? (formal)
5. Wie geht’s? – How are you?

These phrases will not only help you find things and places but also engage in simple conversations with locals.

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How to Say Where is in German: Practice Exercises

Now, let’s practice using the phrase “Wo ist…” in different scenarios. This will be especially useful when you’re traveling or exploring new areas.

Flashcard Practice for “Where is”

• Write different places (in German) on one side of a flashcard and the translation (in English) on the other side. For example:
  • Der Bahnhof (the train station)
  • Die Toilette (the restroom)
  • Das Restaurant (the restaurant)

  Shuffle the flashcards and try to form questions like:

  • Wo ist der Bahnhof? (Where is the train station?)
  • Wo ist die Toilette? (Where is the restroom?)

Role-Playing Scenarios

• With a partner, practice role-playing where one person asks for directions, and the other person responds. For example:
  • You: Wo ist das Restaurant? (Where is the restaurant?)
  • Partner: Das Restaurant ist um die Ecke. (The restaurant is around the corner.)
• Switch roles so you both get practice asking and giving directions.

“Where is…” Treasure Hunt

• Create a list of objects or places around your house or a nearby park (e.g., das Buch – the book, der Garten – the garden).
• Ask someone to hide these objects, then walk around asking questions like:
  • Wo ist das Buch? (Where is the book?)
  • Wo ist der Garten? (Where is the garden?)

  This fun activity will give you the opportunity to practice the structure of “Wo ist…” while engaging with your environment.

Listening and Repeating Directions

• Watch videos or listen to German podcasts that involve asking for directions. Pause the video after each question and repeat the phrase aloud. For example, if someone asks “Wo ist der Supermarkt?”, you can repeat the question and try to mimic the pronunciation.
• This will help you practice listening, repeating, and forming questions in a natural conversational setting.

Online Language Apps

• Use apps like Duolingo or Babbel to practice both greetings and “Wo ist…” phrases. These apps often have interactive exercises where you can listen to native speakers and type in responses. For example, you might be asked to translate “Where is the hotel?” into German.

Combining Greetings with “Where is…” Phrases

To make your practice more dynamic, you can combine the greetings with “Where is…” sentences. For instance:

1. You: Guten Tag! Wo ist der Supermarkt? (Good day! Where is the supermarket?)
2. Stranger: Der Supermarkt ist links. (The supermarket is on the left.)
3. You: Vielen Dank! Auf Wiedersehen! (Thank you very much! Goodbye!)

Practice these types of exchanges with friends or language partners, or even imagine different scenarios to build fluency.

MCQs: 

1. What is the correct translation of “Where is the bank?” in German?
   • a) Wo ist die Toilette?
   • b) Wo ist das Kino?
   • c) Wo ist die Bank?
   • d) Wo ist der Supermarkt?

   Answer: c) Wo ist die Bank?

2. How would you ask, “Where is the park?” in German?
   • a) Wo ist das Krankenhaus?
   • b) Wo ist der Park?
   • c) Wo ist der Bahnhof?
   • d) Wo ist das Restaurant?

   Answer: b) Wo ist der Park?

3. What does “Wo ist das Hotel?” mean?
   • a) Where is the train station?
   • b) Where is the hospital?
   • c) Where is the hotel?
   • d) Where is the park?

   Answer: c) Where is the hotel?

4. Which article would you use for “the supermarket” in German?
   • a) Die Supermarkt
   • b) Das Supermarkt
   • c) Der Supermarkt
   • d) Die Supermarkts

   Answer: c) Der Supermarkt

5. How would you ask someone, “Where is the restroom?” in German?
   • a) Wo ist der Bahnhof?
   • b) Wo ist die Toilette?
   • c) Wo ist der Supermarkt?
   • d) Wo ist das Kino?

   Answer: b) Wo ist die Toilette?

Fill in the Blanks: 

1. Wo ist ________ Restaurant?
   (Fill in with the correct article for “the restaurant”)
   Answer: das Restaurant.
2. Wo ist ________ Bahnhof?
   (Fill in with the correct article for “the train station”)
   Answer: der Bahnhof.
3. Wo ist ________ Toilette?
   (Fill in with the correct article for “the restroom”)
   Answer: die Toilette.
4. Translate: “Where is the hospital?”
   Answer: Wo ist das Krankenhaus?
5. Complete the sentence: “Wo ist ________ Park?”
   (Fill in the correct article for “the park”)
   Answer: der Park.

Match the Following: German Phrases

Match the German question on the left with the correct English translation on the right.

Answers:

• 1 – c) Where is the supermarket?
• 2 – d) Where is the hospital?
• 3 – b) Where is the cinema?
• 4 – a) Where is the train station?
• 5 – e) Where is the restroom?

True or False: German “Where is” Questions

1. “Wo ist der Park?” means “Where is the park?”
   • True
   • False

   Answer: True

2. “Wo ist die Toilette?” means “Where is the supermarket?”
   • True
   • False

   Answer: False (Correct translation: “Where is the restroom?”)

3. The phrase “Wo ist das Restaurant?” uses the correct article for “the restaurant.”
   • True
   • False

   Answer: True

4. “Wo ist die Bank?” means “Where is the bank?”
   • True
   • False

   Answer: True

5. “Wo ist das Kino?” means “Where is the hospital?”
   • True
   • False

   Answer: False (Correct translation: “Where is the cinema?”)

Sentence Scramble: Form the Correct Question

Rearrange the words to form the correct sentence in German:

1. ist / der / Wo / Bahnhof?
   Answer: Wo ist der Bahnhof? (Where is the train station?)
2. die / Wo / Toilette / ist?
   Answer: Wo ist die Toilette? (Where is the restroom?)
3. das / Krankenhaus / Wo / ist?
   Answer: Wo ist das Krankenhaus? (Where is the hospital?)
4. ist / das / Wo / Kino?
   Answer: Wo ist das Kino? (Where is the cinema?)
5. Wo / Supermarkt / der / ist?
   Answer: Wo ist der Supermarkt? (Where is the supermarket?)

Translation Practice: English to German

Translate the following sentences into German.

1. Where is the cinema?
   Answer: Wo ist das Kino?
2. Where is the bank?
   Answer: Wo ist die Bank?
3. Where is the train station?
   Answer: Wo ist der Bahnhof?
4. Where is the hospital?
   Answer: Wo ist das Krankenhaus?
5. Where is the park?
   Answer: Wo ist der Park?
6. Where is the library?
   Answer: Wo ist die Bibliothek?
7. Where is the pharmacy?
   Answer: Wo ist die Apotheke?
8. Where is the bus stop?
   Answer: Wo ist die Bushaltestelle?
9. Where is the airport?
   Answer: Wo ist der Flughafen?
10. Where is the train station?
    Answer: Wo ist der Bahnhof?

Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct article (der, die, das) and the appropriate place:

1. Wo ist _______ Kino?
   Answer: Wo ist das Kino? (Where is the cinema?)
2. Wo ist _______ Schule?
   Answer: Wo ist die Schule? (Where is the school?)
3. Wo ist _______ Park?
   Answer: Wo ist der Park? (Where is the park?)
4. Wo ist _______ Museum?
   Answer: Wo ist das Museum? (Where is the museum?)
5. Wo ist _______ Bank?
   Answer: Wo ist die Bank? (Where is the bank?)

Situation-Based Practice

Imagine you’re in a German-speaking country. Use the phrases below to ask for directions:

1. You’re looking for the nearest restaurant. How would you ask?
   Answer: Wo ist das nächste Restaurant?
2. You need to find a supermarket. What will you say?
   Answer: Wo ist der Supermarkt?
3. You want to know where the hospital is. Ask politely.
   Answer: Wo ist das Krankenhaus?
4. You are trying to locate the city center. How do you ask?
   Answer: Wo ist das Stadtzentrum?
5. You need to find the closest post office. What will you say?
   Answer: Wo ist die nächste Post?

Listening and Responding

Listen to the following prompts (or have a friend read them out) and respond with the correct “Where is…” phrase in German.

1. You hear: “I need to find the train station.”
   Your response: Wo ist der Bahnhof?
2. You hear: “Where is the park?”
   Your response: Wo ist der Park?
3. You hear: “Can you tell me where the hotel is?”
   Your response: Wo ist das Hotel?
4. You hear: “Where is the museum?”
   Your response: Wo ist das Museum?
5. You hear: “I am looking for the bank.”
   Your response: Wo ist die Bank?

Create Your Own Sentences

Create your own sentences using the following places. Use the correct article and form of “Wo ist…”:

1. The supermarket (der Supermarkt)
   Example: Wo ist der Supermarkt?
2. The hospital (das Krankenhaus)
   Example: Wo ist das Krankenhaus?
3. The park (der Park)
   Example: Wo ist der Park?
4. The school (die Schule)
   Example: Wo ist die Schule?
5. The cinema (das Kino)
   Example: Wo ist das Kino?

Role-Playing Exercise

Find a partner and role-play the following scenarios. One person asks for directions, and the other responds:

1. Scenario 1:
   You are looking for the library. Ask where it is, and your partner responds with its location.You: Wo ist die Bibliothek?
   Partner: Die Bibliothek ist um die Ecke. (The library is around the corner.)
2. Scenario 2:
   Your friend wants to know where the restaurant is. Ask for directions.You: Wo ist das Restaurant?
   Partner: Das Restaurant ist die zweite Straße rechts. (The restaurant is the second street on the right.)

Correct the Mistake

In each sentence below, there is a mistake. Correct the sentence so it is grammatically accurate:

1. Wo ist der Toilette?
   Correction: Wo ist die Toilette?
2. Wo ist das Supermarkts?
   Correction: Wo ist der Supermarkt?
3. Wo ist die Kino?
   Correction: Wo ist das Kino?
4. Wo ist der Post?
   Correction: Wo ist die Post?
5. Wo ist die Schule? (correct)
   Answer: This sentence is already correct!

Choose the Correct Article

Choose the correct article for each noun and complete the sentence:

1. Wo ist ______ Supermarkt?
   a) der
   b) die
   c) das
   Answer: a) der Supermarkt
2. Wo ist ______ Bank?
   a) das
   b) die
   c) der
   Answer: b) die Bank
3. Wo ist ______ Hotel?
   a) der
   b) die
   c) das
   Answer: c) das Hotel
4. Wo ist ______ Apotheke?
   a) die
   b) der
   c) das
   Answer: a) die Apotheke
5. Wo ist ______ Park?
   a) der
   b) die
   c) das
   Answer: a) der Park

Translate from German to English

Translate the following German sentences into English:

1. Wo ist das Restaurant?
   Answer: Where is the restaurant?
2. Wo ist die Post?
   Answer: Where is the post office?
3. Wo ist der Bahnhof?
   Answer: Where is the train station?
4. Wo ist das Kino?
   Answer: Where is the cinema?
5. Wo ist die Apotheke?
   Answer: Where is the pharmacy?

True or False: Articles in “Wo ist…” Phrases

Determine if the following sentences use the correct article (der, die, das):

1. Wo ist die Hotel?
   Answer: False (Correct: Wo ist das Hotel?)
2. Wo ist der Park?
   Answer: True
3. Wo ist die Kino?
   Answer: False (Correct: Wo ist das Kino?)
4. Wo ist der Supermarkt?
   Answer: True
5. Wo ist das Krankenhaus?
   Answer: True

Multiple Choice: Choose the Correct Translation

Choose the correct German translation for the following questions:

1. Where is the train station?
   a) Wo ist die Toilette?
   b) Wo ist der Supermarkt?
   c) Wo ist der Bahnhof?
   Answer: c) Wo ist der Bahnhof?
2. Where is the hospital?
   a) Wo ist das Kino?
   b) Wo ist das Krankenhaus?
   c) Wo ist der Park?
   Answer: b) Wo ist das Krankenhaus?
3. Where is the library?
   a) Wo ist die Schule?
   b) Wo ist das Restaurant?
   c) Wo ist die Bibliothek?
   Answer: c) Wo ist die Bibliothek?
4. Where is the restaurant?
   a) Wo ist das Restaurant?
   b) Wo ist die Post?
   c) Wo ist der Flughafen?
   Answer: a) Wo ist das Restaurant?
5. Where is the cinema?
   a) Wo ist das Kino?
   b) Wo ist das Krankenhaus?
   c) Wo ist der Supermarkt?
   Answer: a) Wo ist das Kino?

Write Your Own Questions

Using the phrase “Wo ist…”, create your own questions for the following places. Use the correct article (der, die, das) for each noun:

1. Park (the park)
   Answer: Wo ist der Park?
2. Universität (the university)
   Answer: Wo ist die Universität?
3. Krankenhaus (the hospital)
   Answer: Wo ist das Krankenhaus?
4. Bibliothek (the library)
   Answer: Wo ist die Bibliothek?
5. Kino (the cinema)
   Answer: Wo ist das Kino?

Short Dialogue Practice

Complete the dialogues by filling in the blanks:

1. Person A: Wo ist der Bahnhof?
   Person B: Der Bahnhof ist __________. (Fill in with a direction or location)
   Answer: Der Bahnhof ist geradeaus. (The train station is straight ahead.)
2. Person A: Wo ist die Toilette?
   Person B: Die Toilette ist ___________.
   Answer: Die Toilette ist links. (The restroom is on the left.)
3. Person A: Wo ist das Kino?
   Person B: Das Kino ist ____________.
   Answer: Das Kino ist in der Nähe. (The cinema is nearby.)
4. Person A: Wo ist das Restaurant?
   Person B: Das Restaurant ist ____________.
   Answer: Das Restaurant ist rechts. (The restaurant is on the right.)
5. Person A: Wo ist die Post?
   Person B: Die Post ist ___________.
   Answer: Die Post ist neben dem Supermarkt. (The post office is next to the supermarket.)

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Conclusion

Learning how to say “Where is…” in German is one of the easiest and most useful skills to have when you’re navigating through German-speaking countries. With just “Wo ist…” and the right noun, you can ask for directions, find important locations, and get around more easily. Combine this with a strong understanding of basic greetings like “Guten Morgen” or “Hallo”, and you’ll be well on your way to mastering conversational German.

Don’t forget to practice regularly, use the exercises provided, and keep challenging yourself to learn new phrases. By doing so, you’ll not only improve your language skills but also gain confidence in speaking German in real-life situations. Good luck, or as they say in German: Viel Glück!