Donde vs Adonde
The title of this article might look alien to English speaking people as donde and adonde are not to be found in any dictionary. These are Spanish words that both pertain to an English word where, but many of even Spanish speakers find it difficult to use the right word. This is of course because of the similarities between the two words. This article attempts to highlight the difference between donde and adonde based upon conventions and usage.
Donde
Donde is a spanish adverb. It is pronounced as dohn-day. If one tries to translate the Spanish word donde to English, the closest word is where. Look at the following examples.
• Donde estas (where are you)
• Donde esta mi manita (where is my sister)
• Donde esta el gato (where is the cat)
All these examples clearly indicate that donde means where.
Adonde
Adonde is another Spanish adverb pertaining to the location or whereabouts of a person or an object. If one tries to translate or to find a suitable word for it in English, to where is what comes to mind. This means that when you are interested in knowing about the direction or the location through where to or to where, you have to use adonde.
Take a look at the following examples.
Adonde vas (where are you going)
What is the difference between Donde and Adonde?
• Both donde as well as adonde deal with the question of where but whereas donde means where in a general sense, adonde also seeks out direction or the destination.
• Adonde indicates movement or direction along with destination whereas donde indicates only location.
• Use donde when you are only interested in where but use adonde when you are interested in where to or to where.
• If no direction or movement is required, use donde.