where, were

where - /wɛr/

were - /wər/

• Where were you when the concert started?
• I’m trying to remember where we were last night.
• Where were the keys left after you used them?
• Do you know where they were planning to meet us?
• Where were those books placed on the shelf?
• She couldn’t recall where they were supposed to go.
• Where were you planning to park the car?
• The detectives asked where the suspects were at the time of the incident.
• Where were the children supposed to wait after school?
• We were wondering where everyone was gathering for the event.

Pronunciation Differences:

    • Where (location, place): /wɛr/, with the "wh" or "w" sound followed by a short "e" sound, rhyming with "air" like in "hair".

    • Were (past tense of are): /wɜːr/ or /wər/, pronounced with a more neutral, unstressed "uh" sound.

In spoken English, where has a clearer "eh" vowel sound, while were typically has a softer, more neutral vowel sound.