In this Portuguese lesson I show you how to use Onde and Aonde in Portuguese. It might come as a surprise but Onde and Aonde are not the same thing, although many Brazilians use these words interchangeably.
The good news is that it is easy to learn how to use these words correctly.
You will find practice exercises at the end of the lesson.
How to use ONDE in Portuguese
Onde means where.
It is used in sentences that do not express the idea of movement. Therefore, you can think of it as “In what place?” but not as “Where to?”
The key here is: The sentence or the question does not communicate movement.
Here are examples:
1. You are meeting with a friend for coffee. You get to the place where you are supposed to meet and you don’t see your friend, so you text and ask, “Onde está você?” Or: “Onde você está?” = Where are you?
2. Onde você mora? = Where do you live?
3. Onde é o restaurante? = Where is the restaurant?
4. Onde fica o banheiro? = Where is the restroom?
5. De onde você é? = Where are you from?
6. Your friend has organized a get-together. You get to your friend’s place and ask, “Onde posso colocar o meu casaco?” = Where can I put my coat?
7. Você sabe onde Maria guarda as taças de vinho? = Do you know where maria keeps the wine glasses?
8. Sei, sim. Eu sei onde Maria guarda as taças de vinho. = Yes, I know where Maria keeps the wine glasses.
9. You and your friend are meeting for drinks. You get to the planned location and cannot find your friend, so you call her and say:
Cadê você? Estou aqui onde combinamos de nos encontrar. = Where are you? I’m here where we agreed to meet.
How to use AONDE in Portuguese
Aonde is used with verbs that express the idea of movement. So, you can think of it as “Where to?”
The “a” in “aonde” is a preposition, not an article. It is one of the prepositions that we use with the verb Ir.
Let’s see a few examples:
1. Aonde você vai? = Where are you going?
2. It’s Valentine’s day and your loved one is taking you out for dinner. You are curious about where you are going. You ask, “Aonde você vai me levar para jantar?” = Where are you going to take me for dinner?
3. Aonde você foi nas férias? = Where did you go on vacation?
4. You are visiting Brazil and you get lost walking around. Later you call a friend to tell her about your adventure. You say, “Eu me perdi na cidade e não sabia aonde ir.” = I got lost in the city and didn’t know where to go.
5. There is an argument at work. One of your coworkers says, “Não sei aonde chegaremos com essa discussão.” = I don’t know where we will get to with this argument.
I hope that helps clarify the difference between onde and aonde in Portuguese. Below is a practice exercise for you.
Practice exercise: Onde and Aonde in Portuguese
Fernanda and Mário are having lunch together. They met recently. Complete their conversation using Onde or Aonde. The answers and the translation are below the exercise.
Fernanda: De (1) ____________________ você é?
Mário: Eu sou de Belém. E você?
Fernanda: Eu sou de Curitiba, mas cresci aqui.
Mário: Eu também cresci aqui. (2) ____________________ você estudou?
Fernanda: No Colégio Marista.
Mário looks around wondering where the server is:
Mário: (3)____________________ está o garçom? Faz tempo que não o vejo.
Fernanda: Não vi (4)___________________ ele foi. Daqui a pouco ele aparece.
Mário: (5) __________________ você mora?
Fernanda: Bem pertinho; duas ruas daqui.
Mário: (6) ____________________ você gosta de comer aqui por perto?
Fernanda: Tem um restaurante que eu adoro ali do outro lado da rua.
Mário: (7) ____________________ você vai quando sair daqui? Se você tiver tempo, podemos caminhar um pouco.
Answers:
1. onde 2. Onde 3. Onde 4. aonde 5. Onde 6. Onde 7. Aonde
Translation:
Fernanda: Where are you from?
Mario: I’m from Belém. And you?
Fernanda: I’m from Curitiba, but I grew up here.
Mario: I also grew up here. Where did you go to school?
Fernanda: At Colégio Marista.
Mário looks around wondering where the server is:
Mario: Where’s the server? I haven’t seen him for a while.
Fernanda: I didn’t see where he went. He will show up in a bit.
Mario: Where do you live?
Fernanda: Nearby; two streets from here.
Mario: Where do you like to eat around here?
Fernanda: There’s a restaurant that I love across the street.
Mario: Where are you going after here? If you have time, we can go for a walk.
Street Smart Brazil offers Portuguese lessons via video meetings. We have been helping learners around the globe speak Portuguese with confidence since 2008. Book a trial lesson to test drive our Portuguese classes.
Do you get my newsletter? Sign up and be one of the first to know about my upcoming online course!
(This Portuguese lesson was originally posted in July 2012. It has been updated.)
Leave a Reply