Portuguese Phrase
Onde vão esses brinquedos?
Meaning
The sentence asks for the destination or place where the toys are being taken. It can be used when you see toys being moved and you’re curious about where they’re headed.
When to use
Use this question when you notice toys being carried, packed, or stored and you want to know their next location – for example in a classroom, a toy store, or at home while cleaning up.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ondevãoessesbrinquedos?
Onde (interrogative adverb)
‘Onde’ asks about a location or destination. In Portuguese, it is used for both static locations and movement when the verb is clear.
Ir – vão (present indicative)
‘Ir’ means ‘to go’. ‘Vão’ is the third‑person plural present form, matching ‘esses brinquedos’.
Esses (demonstrative adjective)
‘Esses’ points to something near the speaker and agrees in gender (masc.) and number (pl.) with ‘brinquedos’.
Brinquedos (noun)
Masculine plural noun meaning ‘toys’. The article is omitted because the demonstrative already specifies the noun.
🗨In Conversation
Onde vão esses brinquedos?
Where are these toys going?
Eles vão para a caixa de doação na sala ao lado.
They’re going to the donation box in the next room.
✕Common Mistakes
Onde vai esses brinquedos?
‘Vai’ is singular; the subject ‘brinquedos’ is plural, so the verb must be ‘vão’.
Aonde vão esses brinquedos?
‘Aonde’ is acceptable in Brazil but can sound overly formal in Portugal; beginners often mix it up with ‘onde’.
Onde vão esse brinquedo?
‘Esse’ is singular; the noun ‘brinquedos’ is plural, so use ‘esses’.
↔Alternatives
Para onde vão esses brinquedos?
To where are these toys going?
Aonde vão esses brinquedos?
Where are these toys headed?
Onde ficam esses brinquedos?
Where are these toys kept?
Cultural Tip
In Brazilian Portuguese, ‘onde’ can be used with verbs of motion (like ‘ir’) when the destination is clear, but many speakers prefer ‘para onde’ or ‘aonde’ for extra clarity. In Portugal, ‘aonde’ is less common; ‘onde’ is the standard choice. Also, remember that demonstratives (este/esse/aquele) change based on the speaker’s proximity to the object.