whence
word
Definition
An old or very formal word meaning 'from where' or 'from what place.' Often found in literature, poetry, or historical texts.
Usage & Nuances
Extremely formal—rarely used in everyday speech. Almost always found in classic literature or poetry. 'Whence' means 'from where'; do not use it to simply mean 'where.' Often appears in phrases like 'from whence he came.'
Spanish: de dónde - desde dondePortuguese (BR): de onde - dondePortuguese (PT): de onde - dondeChinese (Simplified): 从何处 - 从哪里Chinese (Traditional): 從何處 - 從哪裡Hindi: कहाँ से - जहाँ सेArabic: مِن أي مكان - من حيثBengali: যেখান থেকে - যে স্থান হইতেRussian: откудаJapanese: どこから - いずこより（文語的、詩語的な用法）Vietnamese: từ đâu - nơi nào (trang trọng, văn thơ)Korean: 어디서 - 어디에서 (아주 문어체, 고어)Turkish: nereden (edebi, çok eski biçim)Urdu: کہاں سے - جس مقام سے (ادبی/قدیم)Indonesian: dari mana (sastra/klasik) - dari tempat mana
Example Sentences
Whence did this strange sound come?
basic
He returned to the city whence he had come.
basic
Do you know whence these traditions originate?
basic
He gazed back to the land whence he had sailed long ago.
natural
This is the house whence many legends have sprung.
natural
I know not whence this inspiration arose within me.
natural