Talk:whereto
so, is it EXACTLY the same as "where"?
No, it isn't. It would be easier to explain if I knew what language you speak but as I do not, I'll give you German, Russian and Hungarian examples. The word "where" has a meaning referring to place, right? But in some languages it is expressed with two different words. These two meanings depend on what you want to describe. If you mean the situation/position you are in AT THE MOMENT or you have reached or will reach - it's one meaning. It is Wo? in German, Где? (Gde?) in Russian and Hol? in my laguage. But if you mean a situation that you are going to reach (so you've started but have not yet reached) or just want it to be, you say Wohin?, Куда? (Kuda?) and Hová?. Even English used to separate them but does not anymore. So do the most Slavic languages, I think some other Germanics (except Eglish), too, but the Neolatins do not.
If it did not explain and you speak none of the languages mentioned above that maybe explains: Where are you. I'm at the station. And where are you going? To the station. So, for the same pronoun you answer with two different prepositions. It means the second sense in both explanation. But it isn't used anymore. Hope it explains, if doesn't, feel free to ask me on my talk page, if you're still here. Sincererly, Ferike333 16:17, 20 May 2009 (UTC)
inanimate pronoun[edit]
The usage note in whither defines whereto as an inanimate pronoun --Backinstadiums (talk) 15:39, 14 August 2019 (UTC)