Questions & Answers about Gdzie one są?
Why does the translation say "they (feminine)"? Is there another word for "they"?
Yes! Polish has two words for "they". Oni is used for groups that include at least one male person (a mixed group or just men). One is used for groups of women, as well as for animals and objects. Since this sentence uses one, we know the speaker is asking about a group without any male people.
Is są the plural version of jest?
Exactly. Są is the form of the verb być (to be) that means "are" for "they". You use it with both oni and one. So, while "she is" is ona jest, "they are" is one są.
If I want to ask where my keys are, would I think of them as one or oni?
You would use one. In Polish, oni is strictly reserved for groups containing at least one male person. For literally everything else in the plural, like women, children, animals, or inanimate objects like keys, the correct pronoun is one.
Could I just ask Gdzie są? without using the pronoun one?
Yes, you can! Just like you learned with ja (I) and ty (you), Polish often drops the subject pronoun because the verb itself tells you who is doing the action. Since są means "they are", Gdzie są? makes perfect sense. Keeping one just adds a little emphasis or clarifies that you aren't talking about men.
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