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πού

poú

G4225 adverb

SILEX Entry

Definition

Interrogative or indefinite adverb denoting place: where?; somewhere, in some place, in a certain (unspecified) place. Used primarily in questions about location or, less frequently, in statements indicating some unidentified or uncertain place.

Semantic Range

where? (interrogative of place), somewhere, in some place, in a certain (unspecified) place, nearly (approximately; rare), about (of location, rarely in NT)

Root / Etymology

Adverb formed from the Proto-Indo-European root *kwo- (interrogative/indefinite pronoun), related to the Greek interrogative πός and ποῖ (direction). Shares semantic field with ποῦ (direction: whither) and πόθεν (whence).

Historical & Contextual Notes

πού occurs both as an interrogative ('where?') and as an indefinite adverb ('somewhere', 'in a certain place') in classical, Hellenistic, and Koine Greek. In the New Testament, its use is infrequent and mostly appears in direct questions regarding location (e.g., Matthew 2:2: 'ποῦ ἐστιν' — 'Where is...?'). It can also appear in indirect or indefinite statements, indicating an unspecified place. English translations sometimes render it as 'about' or 'in some place', but the Greek usage ranges from precise inquiry to vague or generalized reference. Its morphological structure is distinct from relatives like πόσος ('how much/many?') and is part of a set of place adverbs (ποῦ, ποῖ, πόθεν) that express direction, position, and source, respectively. While classical Greek attests it regularly in both prose and poetry, Koine and Septuagint usage is less frequent but shows continuity of meaning. Not to be confused with ποῦ (with an accent), which also serves as an interrogative for 'where?'."

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

genitive case of an indefinite pronoun (some) otherwise obsolete (compare πόσος); as adverb of place, somewhere, i.e. nearly:--about, a certain place.

Root Family

ποῦ (pou) — where, at what place, to what place, inquiry about location

Root που- where, in what place, somewhere
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G4226 ποῦ where?

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4225-01 που pou ADV somewhere where? somewhere 4

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4225-01 Acts 27:29 που pou ADV somewhere where? somewhere
G4225-01 Romans 4:19 που pou ADV about where? somewhere
G4225-01 Hebrews 2:6 πού pou ADV somewhere where? somewhere
G4225-01 Hebrews 4:4 που pou ADV somewhere where? somewhere
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