Confused about how to ask where something is in portuguese?

There are four ways you can ask where something is in Portuguese. Watch this video to learn how to use them.

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Onde está vs onde é

Onde está is used to ask where something is temporarily located. People, objects, intangible items.

Onde você está? Where are you?

Onde é is used to ask where something is permanently located. Countries, states, buildings, bathrooms, stores.

Onde é o restaurante? Where is the restaurant located?

Onde é vs onde fica

There is almost no difference between how onde é and onde está are used. They are both used for things that are permanently located in a specific place.

Onde fica a Polônia? A polônia fica na Europa. Where is Poland? Poland is in Europe.

Onde é a Polônia? A polônia fica na Europa. Where is Poland? Poland is in Europe.

Cadê

Cadê is unique to Brazilian Portuguese and is used only for temporary locations.

Cadê você?

Note that you don’t need to ask cadê está, as this is already implicit in the word cadê. Cadê is a shorted form of “Que é feito de?”