Confused about definitions and use

Question

I am confused about the definitions and use of donde (with an accent over the "o"), donde (no accent) and adonde.

Thanks

Answer 1

As with other words in the what, where, why, how category, an accent mark is used to indicate that there is extra stress on the word (rather than the syllable) when it is used in a question. Short answer: use the accent mark on "donde" when it is part of a question. Example:

¿Dónde están mis llaves? Tus llaves están donde los dejaste.

You may think of these definitions although the difference is sometimes very subtle:

donde = where

adonde = where to (it is a contraction of "a donde")

¿Adónde vamos? Where are we going (to)?

Vamos adonde la abuela. We are going to where grandma is. (In English we would usually say: We are going to grandma's.)

Hope this helps!

exclamations fall into that category of tildes on interrogative pronouns (added stress) - 0074b507, May 30, 2010

Answer 2

You are not alone. You can search and see how many threads there are concerning donde, dónde, de dónde, a dónde, adonde, etc.

The one that confused me is when donde is a relative pronoun and dónde is an interrogative pronoun in an indirect question.

I'd start with reading the dictionary entry on donde and read the notes there about donde and adonde.

donde

Then start reading previous threads and follow the grammar links. Have some aspirin nearby.

As an example here is the title of one grammar article.

Adonde, a donde, adónde, a dónde

And it goes downhill from there.

Answer 3

I am not an excpert all donde means is {where} with 1 tilda over the o. Hope some else can help you more than I can.

Oops,expert and tilde. - 0063492c, May 30, 2010