Breakdown of Куда ты идёшь?
ты
you (singular)
куда
where to
идти
to go (on foot) / to proceed, go (of a process)
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Russian grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Куда ты идёшь?
Why do we use куда instead of где for "where"?
In Russian, куда specifically means "where to" (direction or destination). You must use it with verbs of motion when asking where someone is heading. Где means "where at" (location), which is only used when someone is already resting or doing something at a place.
Why is the verb идёшь used here instead of a general word for "go"?
Russian verbs of motion are very specific! Идёшь comes from the verb идти, which specifically means to go on foot. If the person were driving, cycling, or taking a bus, you would use a form of ехать (to go by vehicle) instead.
Does this sentence mean "Where are you going right now?" or "Where do you usually go?"
It specifically means "Where are you going right now?" Because идти is a unidirectional verb, it describes a single, continuous trip happening in one direction at this exact moment.
Why does the verb end in -ёшь?
The dictionary form of the verb is идти. The ending changes to -ёшь because the subject is ты (you, informal). This is how you conjugate this specific verb to say "you are going" in the present tense.