Italian · Travel & Getting Around
"Where is…?" in Italian: Dov'è…?
Dov'è…?
To ask "where is" in Italian, say Dov'è…? (doh-VEH) and add the place: Dov'è la stazione? It is short for dove è, joined with an apostrophe. For more than one thing, switch to Dove sono…?, as in Dove sono i taxi?
Arriving at a train station
Scusi, dov'è il binario tre?Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce Dov'è…?
Say it
doh-VEH
/doˈvɛ/
Dov'è has two syllables, and the stress lands on the final è: doh-VEH. The accent marks an open e, like in "bet". Run it straight into the next word, so dov'è il bagno sounds like doh-VEH-eel-BAH-nyoh.
"Where is…?" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Dov'è…? | Where is…? For one place or thing. The same with everyone, because the verb refers to the place. | For one place or thing. The same with everyone, because the verb refers to the place. |
| Scusi, dov'è…? | Excuse me, where is…? Formal (Lei). The polite way to stop a stranger. | Formal (Lei). The polite way to stop a stranger. |
| Scusa, dov'è…? | Excuse me, where is…? Informal (tu). For someone your age or younger. | Informal (tu). For someone your age or younger. |
| Dove sono…? | Where are…? For plural things: Dove sono i binari? | For plural things: Dove sono i binari? |
| Sa dov'è…? | Do you know where … is? Extra polite (Lei). The informal version is Sai dov'è…? | Extra polite (Lei). The informal version is Sai dov'è…? |
How to use Dov'è…? in real life
- 1Arriving at a train station
Scusi, dov'è il binario tre?
Excuse me, where is platform three?
Il binario is the platform. Departure boards show the number next to each train.
- 2In a restaurant
Mi scusi, sa dov'è il bagno?
Excuse me, do you know where the restroom is?
Adding sa (do you know) makes the question softer. Il bagno means both bathroom and restroom.
- 3At home, looking for your keys
Dove sono le chiavi della macchina?
Where are the car keys?
Le chiavi is plural, so the question uses dove sono, not dov'è.
Mistakes English speakers make with Dov'è…?
Incorrect: Dov'è i bagni?
Correct: Dove sono i bagni?
Dov'è only works for one thing. With a plural noun the verb changes to sono, and dove keeps its final e.
Incorrect: Dove'è il museo?
Correct: Dov'è il museo?
The apostrophe replaces the final e of dove, so don't write both. The same thing happens in com'è (how is) and cos'è (what is).
Good to know
In old town centers, people often give directions with landmarks instead of street names: dopo la chiesa, giri a destra (after the church, turn right). Listen for a destra (right), a sinistra (left), and sempre dritto (straight ahead). In Venice, streets are called calli and squares are campi, so directions there sound different from the rest of Italy.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Finding the Rialto Bridge in Venice
ChatPal
Buongiorno, serve una mano?
Good morning, do you need a hand?
You
Sì, grazie! Scusi, dov'è il Ponte di Rialto?
Yes, thanks! Excuse me, where is the Rialto Bridge?
ChatPal
Sempre dritto, poi a destra. Sa dov'è Campo San Bartolomeo?
Straight ahead, then right. Do you know where Campo San Bartolomeo is?
You
No, ma lo cerco sulla mappa. Grazie mille!
No, but I'll look for it on the map. Thanks a lot!
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Where is…?" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Where is…?" in Italian
Is dov'è formal or informal?
Neither. Dov'è stays the same with everyone, because it talks about the place, not the person. The politeness comes from the opener: scusi with strangers, scusa with friends.
What is the difference between dov'è and c'è?
Dov'è…? asks where a specific place is: Dov'è il Colosseo? C'è…? asks whether one exists nearby: C'è un bancomat qui vicino? (Is there an ATM near here?)
How do I ask where the bathroom is?
Say Scusi, dov'è il bagno? It's a normal question in any café or restaurant, though some bars expect you to buy something before you use it.
Is the apostrophe in dov'è pronounced?
No. It only shows that dove lost its final e. You hear two syllables, doh-VEH, with the stress on the end.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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