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Questions & Answers about Gdzie pan jest?
Why does this sentence use jest (is) if it translates to "Where are you"?
This is how formal address works in Polish. When speaking formally to a man, you use pan (sir/gentleman) plus the "he/she/it" form of the verb. So, you are literally asking "Where is the gentleman?", which is the Polish way of saying "Where are you, sir?".
How do I know if pan means "you" or "Mr."?
It depends on the context. If you are talking directly to someone, as in this question, pan acts as the formal "you". If you are talking about someone to a third person, it means "Mr." or "the gentleman".
Can I change the word order to Gdzie jest pan?
Yes, both Gdzie pan jest? and Gdzie jest pan? are correct. Polish word order is quite flexible. Putting pan before the verb is just very natural and common in everyday speech for short questions like this.
Why is pan written with a lowercase letter?
In Polish, words like pan (sir) or pani (madam) are not capitalized in the middle of a sentence. The only exception is when you are writing a formal letter or email, where capitalizing it shows special respect to the reader.