What is -where?
-where attaches to five words (some, no, every, any, else) to form a closed set of location adverbs. It only works with these five, you cannot invent other combinations.
ESEN
Suffix · forms adverbs
-where
Combines with some, no, every, any and else to form location adverbs: somewhere, nowhere, everywhere, anywhere, elsewhere. Five basic words you will use constantly.
In Spanish: -donde / en cualquier lugarBasic
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
The five words
somewhere = at/in some place (it exists, but you don't know which) nowhere = at/in no place (fully negates location) everywhere = at/in every place anywhere = at/in any place (free choice, no restriction) elsewhere = at/in a different place (than the one already mentioned)
When to use each one
"I left it somewhere" = it exists, I just don't know where. "I can't find it anywhere" = used with a negative. "Sit anywhere you like" = free choice. "If this store doesn't have it, we'll look elsewhere" = a different place than this one.
How it is formed
some/no/every/any/else + where. Closed set: only works with these five words.
- some + wheresomewhere
- no + wherenowhere
- every + whereeverywhere
- any + whereanywhere
- else + whereelsewhere
How it is pronounced
-where/wɛr/ · sounds like "wer"
Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
Examples
Base word
With -where
In a phrase
- somesomewhereLet's meet somewhere close to the office.
- nonowhereWe were lost, nowhere near the hotel.
- everyeverywhereConfetti was everywhere after the celebration.
- anyanywhereYou can sit anywhere you like.
- elseelsewhereIf this store doesn't have it, we'll look elsewhere.
Common mistakes
someplace / noplace
somewhere / nowhere
"someplace" and "noplace" exist in informal American English, but general and written English prefers "somewhere" and "nowhere".
I looked everywhere and they was nothing there
I looked everywhere and there was nothing there
"everywhere" does not make the verb plural. Always use "there was" / "it was", never "they was".
anyplace / elseplace
anywhere / elsewhere
"anyplace" is informal American English; "elseplace" simply does not exist. Always use "anywhere" and "elsewhere".
A trick to remember it
There are only 5, count them on one hand: SOME-where (1 finger = a place exists), NO-where (closed fist = 0 places), EVERY-where (open hand = every place), ANY-where (any finger, whichever), ELSE-where (the finger next to it = a different place).
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
What's the difference between "anywhere" and "somewhere"?
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Frequently asked questions
What does the suffix -where mean in English?
The suffix -where combines with some, no, every, any and else to form location adverbs: somewhere, nowhere, everywhere, anywhere, elsewhere. Five basic words you will use constantly. In Spanish it usually maps to -donde / en cualquier lugar.
How do you pronounce -where?
The ending -where is pronounced /wɛr/ · sounds like "wer". For example, "somewhere".
Can you give an example of a word with -where?
"some" becomes "somewhere". It is a typical example of the -where suffix.
Other useful suffixes
-bound
From the past participle of "bind": forms adjectives meaning "confined by," "heading toward," or "obligated by." Spellbound, earthbound, homebound, hidebound, snowbound, inbound.
-ever
Added to question words (what, who, where, when, how, which) to create free relatives meaning "no matter what/who/where/when/how/which."
-ward / -wards
Turns a direction word into a direction adverb/adjective: inward, outward, forward. Works with almost any direction word, it is productive.
Learn every English suffix
-tion, -ness, -ful, -ly, -able... every ending you need to understand thousands of words at once.