wherever

Alternative forms

whereever (obsolete)

Etymology

From where +‎ ever.

Pronunciation

(General American) IPA^(key): /(h)wɛɹˈɛvɚ/
(Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /wɛəˈɹɛvə/
Audio (US): (file)
Rhymes: -ɛvə(ɹ)

Adverb

wherever (not comparable)

(interrogative) Where ever; an emphatic form of where.
Wherever have you been all my life?
(informal) In, at or to any place that one likes or chooses.
I don't care what you do with it; just put it wherever.

Where do you want to have lunch? — Wherever; I don't mind.
(fused relative) The place (no matter where) in, at or to which.
He's back from wherever he's been hiding.

Go home to wherever you belong.

I'd you follow me wherever you went.

Usage notes

Used emphatically, wherever may be two words (where ever) when used in questions, though the single word is more common, especially in US usage.

Synonyms

everwhere (US, dialectal, Appalachia)

Translations

emphatic form of "where"

Bulgarian: къде (bg) (kǎde), накъде (bg) (nakǎde)
Catalan: onsevulla (ca)
Danish: hvor (da), hvor i alverden
Dutch: waar toch
Esperanto: kie ajn
Finnish: missä ihmeessä, missä kummassa, missä ikinä
French: où donc
Japanese: please add this translation if you can
Polish: gdzież (pl), dokądże
Russian: где́ же (ru) (gdé že) (location), куда́ же (ru) (kudá že) (direction)
Scottish Gaelic: ge be àite
Yiddish: וווּ נישט איז (vu nisht iz), וווּ נאָר (vu nor), וווּ סע זאָל נישט זײַן (vu se zol nisht zayn)

Conjunction

wherever

Regardless of the place in, at or to which.
Wherever you go, I’ll find you.
- 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XVII”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 28:
  Henceforth, wherever thou may’st roam,
  ⁠My blessing, like a line of light,
  ⁠Is on the waters day and night,
  And like a beacon guards thee home.
In, at or to any place (that); anywhere.
You can sit wherever you like.
In, at or to all places or situations (that); everywhere.
Add quotations wherever they are needed.

I see mistakes wherever I look.

Our charity has limited funds, but we help wherever we can.
- 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XXIII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
  If the afternoon was fine they strolled together in the park, very slowly, and with pauses to draw breath wherever the ground sloped upward. The slightest effort made the patient cough.
Used to show that one does not know where someone or something is located.
She lives in Puddletown, wherever that is.

Translations

in any place, anywhere

Arabic: أَيْنَ (ar) (ʔayna), أَيْنَمَا (ʔaynamā), حَيْثُمَا (ḥayṯumā)
Bulgarian: където и да е (kǎdeto i da e)
Catalan: onsevulga (ca), onsevol, onsevulla (ca)
Chinese:
Mandarin: 無論何處 / 无论何处 (zh) (wúlùnhéchù)
Czech: kdekoli (cs), kamkoli (cs)
Danish: hvor (da), hvor end
Dutch: waar (nl), waar ook
Esperanto: kie ajn
Finnish: missä tahansa, missä vain, missä ikinä, mihin tahansa, mihin vain, mihin ikinä
French: où (fr), là où (fr), quelque part que, où que (fr)
Galician: nalgures (gl)
German: wo auch immer, wo immer
Greek: οπουδήποτε (el) (opoudípote)
Italian: dovunque (it) (followed by the subjunctive)
Japanese: どこでも (dokodemo)
Latin: ubicumque, ubiubi
Malay: di mana jua, di mana sahaja, ke mana jua, ke mana sahaja
Ngazidja Comorian: haina mahala
Norwegian: hvor enn
Old Norse: hvars
Plautdietsch: wua'emma
Polish: gdziekolwiek (pl), dokądkolwiek (pl), gdzie tylko, dokąd tylko, gdzie nie, dokąd nie
Portuguese: onde quer que
Russian: где́ бы ни (gdé by ni), где́ бы (то) ни́ бы́ло (gdé by (to) ní býlo), где уго́дно (gde ugódno) (location), куда́ бы ни (kudá by ni), куда́ бы (то) ни́ бы́ло (kudá by (to) ní býlo), куда́ уго́дно (kudá ugódno) (direction)
Scottish Gaelic: ge be àite
Serbo-Croatian:
Roman: kudgod (sh), gdegod (sh)
Spanish: dondequiera (es), donde sea, adondequiera (es) (whitherever)

in all places, everywhere

Bulgarian: навсякъде където (navsjakǎde kǎdeto)
Danish: hvor (da)
Dutch: waar ook
Finnish: missä tahansa, missä vain, missä ikinä
French: partout où
Galician: xalundes
Greek: οπουδήποτε (el) (opoudípote)
Italian: ovunque (it) followed by the subjunctive, dappertutto (it)
Japanese: どこでも (dokodemo)
Malay: di mana-mana
Polish: wszędzie (pl)
Portuguese: onde quer que
Russian: везде́ (ru) (vezdé), повсю́ду (ru) (povsjúdu)
Scottish Gaelic: ge be àite
Yoruba: nibikibi

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

Danish: ^{(please verify)} hvor end, ^{(please verify)} hvor som helst, ^{(please verify)} overalt hvor, ^{(please verify)} hvorhen end
French: (followed by the subjunctive) ^{(please verify)} où que (fr)
Malay: ^{(please verify)} di mana-mana, ^{(please verify)} ke mana-mana

(about) hereabout, thereabout, whereabout
(abouts) hereabouts, thereabouts, whereabouts
(above) hereabove, thereabove, whereabove
(across) thereacross, whereacross
(after) hereafter, thereafter, whereafter
(against) hereagainst, thereagainst, whereagainst
(again) thereagain
(along) herealong, therealong, wherealong
(amidst) thereamidst
(amid) thereamid
(among) hereamong, thereamong, whereamong
(amongst) hereamongst, thereamongst, whereamongst
(anent) hereanent, thereanent, whereanent
(around) therearound, wherearound
(as) thereas, whereas
(at) hereat, thereat, whereat
(atop) thereatop
(before) herebefore, therebefore, wherebefore
(behind) therebehind, wherebehind
(below) herebelow, therebelow, wherebelow
(beneath) herebeneath, therebeneath
(beside) therebeside
(between) therebetween, wherebetween
(betwixt) therebetwixt
(beyond) herebeyond, therebeyond
(by) hereby, thereby, whereby
(ever) herever, therever, wherever
(fore) herefore, therefore, wherefore
(for) herefor, therefor, wherefor
(fro) herefro, therefro, wherefro
(from) herefrom, therefrom, wherefrom
(hence) herehence, therehence
(in after) hereinafter, thereinafter, whereinafter
(in before) hereinbefore, thereinbefore, whereinbefore
(in) herein, therein, wherein
(in soever) whereinsoever
(into) hereinto, thereinto, whereinto
(in which) whereinwhich
(of) hereof, thereof, whereof
(on) hereon, thereon, whereon
(onto) hereonto, thereonto, whereonto
(out) hereout, thereout, whereout
(outside) thereoutside
(over) hereover, thereover, whereover
(soever) wheresoever
(somever) wheresomever
(so) whereso
(throughout) therethroughout
(through) therethrough, wherethrough
(tofore) heretofore, theretofore, wheretofore
(to) hereto, thereto, whereto
(toward) heretoward, theretoward, wheretoward
(towards) theretowards, wheretowards
(under) hereunder, thereunder, whereunder
(until) thereuntil, whereuntil
(unto) hereunto, thereunto, whereunto
(upon) hereupon, thereupon, whereupon
(withal) herewithal, therewithal, wherewithal
(with) herewith, therewith, wherewith
(within) herewithin, therewithin, wherewithin
(without) herewithout, therewithout, wherewithout

More information about, abouts ...

wherever

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Pronunciation

Adverb

Usage notes

Synonyms

Translations

Conjunction

Translations

See also

Wikiwand - on

Pronominal adverbs

																																																															about	abouts	above	across	after	afters	again	against	along	among	amongst	anent¹	around	as	at	away	beit	before	beside	between	beyond	by	ever	for	fore	forth	forward	forwards	from	hence	in above	in after	in before	in below	in elsewhere	in soever	into	in under	mid²	of	on	out	over	so	soever	somedever³	somever³	through	throughout	to	tofore	unto	up	upon	ward	wards	-wise	with	withal	within	without
																																																														hence	—	—	—	—	henceafter	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	henceforth	henceforward	henceforwards	hencefrom	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
																																																														here	hereabout	hereabouts	hereabove	—	hereafter	hereafters	—	hereagainst	—	hereamong	hereamongst	hereanent	—	—	hereat	hereaway	—	herebefore	—	—	—	hereby	—	herefor	herefore	hereforth	hereforward	hereforwards	herefrom	herehence	hereinabove	hereinafter	hereinbefore	hereinbelow	hereinelsewhere	hereinsoever	hereinto	hereinunder	heremid	hereof	hereon	hereout	hereover	—	—	—	—	herethrough	herethroughout	hereto	heretofore	hereunto	—	hereupon	—	—	—	herewith	herewithal	herewithin	herewithout
																																																														hither	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	hitherto	—	hitherunto	—	—	hitherward	hitherwards	—	—	—	—	—
																																																														how	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	howbeit	—	—	—	—	—	however	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	howso	howsoever	howsomedever	howsomever	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
																																																														that	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	thataway	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	thatwise	—	—	—	—
																																																														thence	—	—	—	—	—	thenceafter	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	thenceforth	thenceforward	thenceforwards	thencefrom	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	thenceout	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
																																																														there	thereabout	thereabouts	thereabove	thereacross	thereafter	thereafters	thereagain	thereagainst	therealong	thereamong	thereamongst	thereanent	therearound	—	thereat	thereaway	—	therebefore	therebeside	therebetween	therebeyond	thereby	therever	therefor	therefore	thereforth	—	—	therefrom	therehence	thereinabove	thereinafter	thereinbefore	thereinbelow	—	—	thereinto	thereinunder	theremid	thereof	thereon	thereout	thereover	—	theresoever	—	—	therethrough	therethroughout	thereto	theretofore	thereunto	thereup	thereupon	—	—	—	therewith	therewithal	therewithin	therewithout
																																																														this	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	thisaway	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	thiswise	—	—	—	—
																																																														thither	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	thitherinsoever	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	thitherto	—	—	—	—	thitherward	thitherwards	—	—	—	—	—
																																																														what	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	whatever	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	whatso	whatsoever	whatsomedever	whatsomever	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	whatwise	—	—	—	—
																																																														when	whenabout	whenabouts	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	whenas	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	whenever	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	whenso	whensoever	—	whensomever	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
																																																														whence	—	—	—	—	whenceafter	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	whencever	—	—	whenceforth	whenceforward	—	whencefrom	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	whenceward	whencewards	—	—	—	—	—
																																																														where	whereabout	whereabouts	whereabove	—	whereafter	whereafters	—	whereagainst	wherealong	whereamong	whereamongst	whereanent	wherearound	whereas	whereat	whereaway	—	wherebefore	wherebeside	wherebetween	wherebeyond	whereby	wherever	wherefor	wherefore	whereforth	—	—	wherefrom	wherehence	whereinabove	whereinafter	whereinbefore	whereinbelow	—	whereinsoever	whereinto	whereinunder	wheremid	whereof	whereon	whereout	whereover	whereso	wheresoever	—	wheresomever	wherethrough	wherethroughout	whereto	wheretofore	whereunto	whereup	whereupon	—	—	—	wherewith	wherewithal	wherewithin	wherewithout
whither	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	whitherever	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	whitherinsoever	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	whitherso	—	—	—	—	—	whitherto	whithertofore	—	—	—	whitherward	whitherwards	—	—	—	—	—
why	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	whyever	whyfor	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	whyso	whysoever	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1. Scottish 2. from Middle English mid 3. old dialectal form