How to Say Where Are You From in Spanish: A Superior Guide (2023)

Let’s face it, one of the most common questions you’ll have to answer in Spanish as a second language speaker is: Where are you from?

Whether you’re still a beginner at Spanish or are just working on improving your accent, Spanish speakers will likely pick up that you’re not a native speaker. One of the most natural reactions will be to ask where you’re from to get to know you a bit better.

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When this happens as you meet people (which it inevitably will!), you should be prepared to respond with flair and precision. That’s why we’ll teach you not only how to say “where are you from?” in Spanish, but also how to respond when someone asks you the very same question!

Similarly, knowing how to ask people where they’re from will allow you to connect with locals on a deeper level. If you visit big Latin American cities like Lima or Bogotá, you’ll find that many of the locals aren’t actually from there.

Many people in Latin America migrate from small towns to urban centers, so being able to ask them about where they’re from and where they were born in Spanish will help you make more genuine connections with the people you meet in your travels!

Finally, you’ll need to know about countries, cities, and nationalities in Spanish to talk about places of origin in Spanish! So make sure to check it out.

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So, are you ready to learn how to ask questions about place of origin in Spanish? ¡Vámonos!

Download your free Spanish language essentials eBook here to get a head start on Spanish basics.

How do I say Where are you from in Spanish

Asking someone where they’re from is one of the most natural questions to ask someone you’re trying to get to know, just like asking “how are you?”. So, whether you’re trying to make friends with your new classmates or work colleagues, or are going on a romantic date, asking someone where are you from in Spanish will help you get to know the person in front of you on a closer level.

How to Say Where Are You From in Spanish: A Superior Guide (1)

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English Spanish IPA Pronunciation
Where are you from? ¿De dónde eres? de ˈðõnde ˈɛɾes ‖ deh don-deh eh-res
Where are you from? (plural) ¿De dónde son? de ˈðõnde ˈsõn ‖ deh don-deh sohn
Where are you from? (formal) ¿De dónde es? de ˈðõnde ˈɛs ‖ deh don-deh ehs
Where do you come from? ¿De dónde vienes? de ˈðõnde ˈβjenes ‖ deh don-deh vee-eh-nes
Are you from here? ¿Eres de aquí? ˈɛɾes̬ ðe aˈki ‖ eh-res deh ah-key
Are you from here? (formal) ¿Usted es de aquí? usˈtɛð ˈɛs̬ ðe aˈki ‖ oos-ted ehs deh ah-key
Are you from here? (plural) ¿Ustedes son de aquí? usˈteðes ˈsõn de aˈki ‖ oos-teh-des sohn deh ah-key
Which city are you from? ¿De qué ciudad eres? de ˈke sjuˈðað ˈɛɾes ‖ deh keh see-ooh-dad eh-res
Are you also from here? ¿También eres de aquí? tãmˈbjɛn ˈɛɾes̬ ðe aˈki ‖ tam-bey-ehn eh-res deh ah-key
Are you from around here? ¿Eres de por aquí? ˈɛɾes̬ ðe poɾ aˈki ‖ eh-res deh pore ah-key
Where did you grow up? ¿Dónde creciste? ˈdõnde kɾeˈsiste ‖ don-deh creh-sees-teh
Where were you raised? ¿Dónde te criaste? ˈdõnde te ˈkɾjaste ‖ don-deh teh cree-as-teh
Where were you born? ¿Dónde naciste? ˈdõnde naˈsiste ‖ don-deh nah-sees-teh
Which part of the world did you grow up in? ¿En qué parte del mundo creciste? ɛ̃n ˈke ˈpaɾte ðɛl ˈmũndo kɾeˈsiste ‖ ehn keh par-teh del moon-doe creh-sees-teh
What’s your nationality? ¿Cuál es tu nacionalidad? ˈkwal ˈɛs tu nasjonaliˈðað ‖ coo-al ehs too nah-see-oh-na-lee-dad
What country do you come from? ¿De qué país vienes? de ˈke paˈis̬ ˈβjenes ‖ deh keh pa-ees vee-eh-nes
Where do you live? ¿Dónde vives? ˈdõnde ˈβiβes ‖ don-deh vee-ves
Are you coming from far away? ¿Vienes de muy lejos? ˈbjenes̬ ðe mwi ˈlexos ‖ vee-eh-nes deh mooy leh-hos
May I ask where you’re from? ¿Puedo saber de dónde eres? ˈpweðo saˈβɛɾ ðe ˈðõnde ˈɛɾes ‖ poo-eh-doh sah-ber deh don-deh eh-res
I would like to know where you’re from. Me gustaría saber de dónde eres. me ɣustaˈɾia saˈβɛɾ ðe ˈðõnde ˈɛɾes ‖ meh goose-ta-ree-ah sah-ber deh don-deh eh-res
Where is your family from? ¿De dónde es tu familia? de ˈðõnde ˈɛs tu faˈmilja ‖ deh don-deh ehs too fa-me-lee-ah
Does your family live here also? ¿Tu familia también vive aquí? tu faˈmilja tãmˈbjɛ̃m ˈbiβe aˈki ‖ too fa-me-le-ah tam-bee-ehn vee-veh ah-key

How to respond to where are you from

Below, you’ll find over a dozen ways to answer when someone asks you where you’re from. Most of them have a specific country or city, so just swap it out for the one that matches where you’re from!

How to Say Where Are You From in Spanish: A Superior Guide (2)

English Spanish IPA Pronunciation
I’m from Venezuela. Soy de Venezuela. ˈsoi̯ ðe βeneˈswela ‖ soy deh veh-neh-zoo-eh-la
I’m from Buenos Aires Soy de Buenos Aires. ˈsoi̯ ðe ˈβwenos ˈai̯ɾes ‖ soy deh boo-eh-nos ah-e-res
We’re from California. Somos de California. ˈsomos̬ ðe kaliˈfoɾnja ‖ so-mos deh ka-lee-fore-nee-ah
I’m Mexican, but I was born and raised in the United States. Soy mexicano, pero crecí en los Estados Unidos. ˈsoi̯ mexiˈkano | ˈpɛɾo kɾeˈsi ɛ̃n los ɛsˈtaðos uˈniðos ‖ soy meh-he-ca-no, peh-ro nah-see ehn los es-ta-dos oo-nee-dos
I’m Argentinian and live in Peru. Soy argentina y vivo en Perú. ˈsoj aɾxɛ̃nˈtina i̯ ˈβiβo ɛ̃m pɛˈɾu ‖ soy ar-hen-tee-na e vee-vo ehn peh-roo
I was born in Miami but my parents are Peruvian. Nací en Miami pero mis papás son peruanos. naˈsi ɛ̃m ˈmjami ˈpɛɾo mis paˈpas ˈsõm pɛˈɾwanos ‖ na-see ehn miami peh-ro mees pa-pahs sohn peh-roo-ah-nos
My family is from Chile but I was born and raised in Mexico City. Mi familia es de Chile pero yo nací y crecí en la Ciudad de México. mi faˈmilja ˈɛs̬ ðe ˈʧile ˈpɛɾo ˈʝo naˈsi i kɾeˈsi ɛ̃n la sjuˈðað ðe ˈmexiko ‖ me fa-mee-lee-ah ehs deh chee-le peh-ro yo nah-see e creh-see ehn la see-oo-dad deh meh-he-co
I live near here, close to downtown. Vivo aquí cerquita, por el centro. ˈbiβo aˈki sɛɾˈkita | poɾ ɛl ˈsɛ̃ntɾo ‖ vee-vo ah-key ser-key-ta, pore el sehn-tro
I live very far away, in the outskirts of town. Vivo muy lejos, en las afueras de la ciudad. ˈbiβo mwi ˈlexos | ɛ̃n las aˈfwɛɾas̬ ðe la sjuˈðað ‖ vee-vo mooy leh-hos, ehn las ah-foo-eh-ras deh la see-ooh-dad
I was born here and I’ve lived here my whole life. Aquí nací y aquí he vivido toda mi vida. aˈki naˈsi j aˈki ˈe βiˈβiðo ˈtoða mi ˈβiða ‖ ah-key na-see e ah-key eh vee-vee-do to-da me vee-da
I come from Colombia, I’m in Lima on vacation. Vengo de Colombia, estoy en Lima de vacaciones. ˈbɛ̃nɡo ðe koˈlõmbja | ɛsˈtoj ɛ̃n ˈlima ðe βakaˈsjones ‖ vehn-go deh co-lom-bee-ah, ehs-toy ehn lee-ma deh va-ca-see-oh-nes
I’m American but my partner is Guatemalan. Soy estadounidense pero mi pareja es guatemalteca. ˈsoj ɛstaðou̯niˈðɛ̃nse ˈpɛɾo mi paˈɾexa ˈɛs̬ ɣwatemalˈteka ‖ soy estda-do-oo-nee-dehn-seh peh-ro me pa-reh-hah ehs goo-ah-teh-mal-teh-ca
I was born in Central America, but I now live in South America. Crecí en Centroamérica, pero ahora vivo en Sudamérica. kɾeˈsi ɛ̃n sɛ̃ntɾoaˈmɛɾika | ˈpɛɾo aˈoɾa ˈβiβo ɛ̃n suðaˈmɛɾika ‖ creh-see ehn sehn-tro-ah-meh-ree-ca, pehr-oh ah-oh-ra vee-vo ehn sood-ah-meh-ree-ca
I’m Chilean, he is Argentinian, and they are Colombian. Yo soy chilena, él es argentino, y ellas dos son colombianas. ˈɟʝo ˈsoi̯ ʧiˈlena | ˈɛl ˈɛs aɾxɛ̃nˈtino | j ˈeʝas̬ ˈðos ˈsõn kolõmˈbjanas ‖ yo soy che-leh-na, ehl es ar-hen-tee-no e eh-yas dos son co-lom-bee-ah-nas
I’m from Philadelphia, in the United States. Soy de Filadelfia, en los Estados Unidos. ˈsoi̯ ðe filaˈðɛlfja | ɛ̃n los ɛsˈtaðos uˈniðos ‖ soy deh fee-la-del-fee-ah, ehn los ehs-ta-dos ooh-nee-dos
I’m from a city in the United States called Austin. Soy de una ciudad en los Estados Unidos que se llama Austin. ˈsoi̯ ðe ˈuna sjuˈðað ɛ̃n los ɛsˈtaðos uˈniðos ˈke se ˈʝama ˈau̯stĩn ‖ soy deh oo-na see-ooh-dad ehn los ehs-ta-dos ooh-nee-dos keh seh yah-ma ah-oohs-teen
I’m from California, from a city near Los Ángeles. Soy de California, de una ciudad cerca de Los Ángeles. ˈsoi̯ ðe kaliˈfoɾnja | de ˈuna sjuˈðað ˈsɛɾka ðe los ˈãnxeles ‖ soy deh ka-lee-fore-nee-ah, deh ooh-na see-ooh-dad ser-ca deh los ahn-heh-les
I’m from the mountains. Soy de la sierra. ˈsoi̯ ðe la ˈsjɛra ‖ soy deh la see-eh-ra
I’m from the coast. Soy de la costa. ˈsoi̯ ðe la ˈkosta ‖ soy deh la cos-ta
I’m from the city. Soy de la ciudad. ˈsoi̯ ðe la sjuˈðað ‖ soy deh la see-ooh-dad
I’m from the countryside. Soy del campo. ˈsoi̯ ðɛl ˈkãmpo ‖ soy del cam-po

Hispanic Hospitality

If you’ve been lucky enough to travel to a Spanish speaking country, you may have noticed how warm and friendly people tend to be. Most visitors are shocked to find out how kind and welcoming Spanish speakers are, even to foreigners who may not even speak the language.

This is part of the reason why the top two countries with the most international tourists in 2021 were Mexico and Spain. People who visit often feel like home, which is why an immersive Spanish learning experience could be a fantastic idea for your language-learning journey. What better way to learn Spanish than by visiting Spain or Latin America and making long-lasting connections with new friends?

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What does “Mi casa es su casa” mean?

Hispanic cultures are so hospitable, in fact, that this phrase is famous all over the world. “Mi casa es su casa,” which is also often shortened to “Mi casa, su casa,” literally means “my house is your house.” It is an expression used to imply that I’m happy to share my house with you, similar to “make yourself at home.”

If you hear this from a Spanish speaker, you should definitely not take it literally, though! Definitely take it as a sign of warmth and kindness, and do make sure to feel comfortable as a guest, but remember to always be polite and thoughtful!

How to Say Where Are You From in Spanish: A Superior Guide (3)

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How to Say Where Are You From in Spanish: A Superior Guide (4)

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Bond with the locals no matter where you go

Knowing how to ask someone where they’re from will help you make deeper connections with people, no matter where in the world you are. Perhaps more importantly, you will be able to answer this question with confidence, as you will undoubtedly have to numerous times as you meet people when you visit any of the 21 countries that speak Spanish.

If you think this article will help you make new friends and maintain friendships in Spanish, you should check out our Spanish blog. We publish many useful guides that will help you take your Spanish conversations to the next level, including guides on clothing items in Spanish, drinks in Spanish, and much more!

Oh, and don’t forget to bookmark our page, as we publish new (and free!) guides every month! Now you’ll definitely never run out of things to talk about with your Spanish speaking friends.

FAQs

How do you answer where your from in Spanish? ›

De donde eres? Pronounced: day-dohn-day-air-es. This phrase means “where are you from?” The correct response when somebody asks you “de donde eres” is “yo soy de [insert your answer].” Pronounced: yo-soy-day [insert your answer].

What is the formal way of saying where are you from in Spanish? ›

You can say: ¿De dónde eres? ¿De dónde eres tú? ¿De dónde es?

How to respond where are you from? ›

'Where are you from' is normally asking about your country or your city. It's not asking where you came from today. To answer the question, simply say 'I'm from' plus your country.

How do you respond to Mucho Gusto? ›

Mucho gusto ("a pleasure to meet you")

In English, we would say "a pleasure to meet you." A common response to mucho gusto is el gusto es mío (literally, "the pleasure is mine").

What can I say instead of where are you from? ›

Yet, many see it as offensive or even simply too difficult to answer.
...
10 Alternatives to “Where are you from?”
  • Where is home right now? ...
  • What is home? ...
  • Who are you? ...
  • What's your story? ...
  • Where have you lived? ...
  • Where were you born? ...
  • What brings you here?
Jun 15, 2018

Where you're from or where your from? ›

The easiest way to remember which word to use is to remember that you're is a contraction of the words you are. You're = you are. Keep this in your mind if you get a little stuck. Whereas, your = belonging to a person.

How do you address someone professionally in Spanish? ›

Formal
  1. A quien corresponda. = To whom it may concern.
  2. Muy señor mío. = Dear Sir.
  3. Estimado Señor (apellido) = Dear Mr. (last name)
  4. Don (nombre) = Dear (first name)
Dec 8, 2016

How do you ask someone where they are from in Spanish? ›

If you want to ask someone where they're from in Spanish, you can say ¿De dónde eres? (or ¿De dónde es usted?). This phrase means "Where are you from?" and is one of the common ways to learn about someone's background.

Is donde estas formal or informal? ›

If you want to say, “Where are you?” in Spanish, there are three possible options: “¿Dónde estás?” (informal singular), “¿Dónde está?” (formal singular), and “¿Dónde están?” (plural).

Where are you from is this correct? ›

"Where are you from" is the correct syntax. "From where are you" is not idiomatic, and could be a hypercorrection. Don't use this word order. "Where from are you" is simply incorrect grammar and a mistake.

Where do you live or where do you come from? ›

“Where do you live” asks for the place where you actually live (although you might have been born somewhere else). “Where do you come from” asks for your origin.

Where do you live vs Where are you from? ›

"Where are you from?" = "Where were you born?", or "where did you grow up?". "Where do you live?" = "Where do you live now?". Some people may strongly identify with where they live, and so may say that they are from the same place they live in now, even if they weren't born or grew up there.

How do you respond to como soy? ›

If you feel alright, you say estoy bien; you could also say, estoy muy bien, to give more emphasis, which means “very good” or “very well.” You can also add one extra word, gracias, meaning “thanks”, and estoy bien, gracias; it means “I'm fine, thank you.”

What is the meaning of Que Tal? ›

que tal ? - what of it?

What is a better word for where? ›

Synonyms of where

at, in, or to what place where will you be tonight?

How do you define where your from? ›

Where are you from?: What is your country of origin? What nationality are you? Where do you live?

Is the place you were born where your from? ›

Your birthplace is the place where you were born.

Is it where you born or from? ›

Although a fluent English speaker would understand what you were trying to say, the correct question is as you acknowledged, "Where were you born?". The only thing that would be similar to what you asked would be "Where did your birth take place?"

How do you express your nationality in Spanish? ›

¿De dónde eres? [slowly] ¿De dónde eres? Answering this question is very easy! You just say Soy, which means "I am", then your nationality or country.

How do you address someone with respect in Spanish? ›

TÚ es informal (Tú is informal), while Usted es formal (Usted is informal). TÚ conveys familiarity and closeness, but USTED connotes respect.

How do you start a professional letter in Spanish? ›

Beginning Your Formal Spanish Letter
  1. If you don't know the exact person you're writing to, use Muy señor(a) mío/a (My dear Sir/Madam)
  2. For writing to an institution, use Muy señores míos (Dear Sirs)
  3. The most formal opener is Distinguido/a Señor(a) (Distinguished Mr./Mrs.), followed by the person's surname if you know it.
Dec 6, 2022

How do you ask someone where are you from? ›

Being specific helps the person you're asking understand exactly what you mean. Plus, asking where someone is from comes with baggage. Instead try "What is your cultural background?" or "What is your family's heritage?" "That way you're not implying that somebody doesn't belong in the country," says Emmelyn.

How do you ask someone where he is from? ›

You can ask, "Could you tell me where you are from?" Note "where you are" not "where are you". "Could you tell me where you're from?" is fine, because the contraction expands in place. Perhaps your uncertainty is with the wording of "indirect" questions like this. "Where are you from?"

Is Como Han estado formal? ›

It is basically another tense, what would be the past participle in English, and, instead of “How are you?” It means, ¿How have you been? The same rules of plural or formal context apply: “¿Como han estado?” for the plural and, “¿Como ha estado?” for a more formal greeting.

Is que tal estas formal? ›

¿Qué tal? is used in both, informal and formal situations, so you can greet an elderly person with ¿qué tal?

Is Hola como esta formal or informal? ›

How to Say Hello How Are You in Spanish. If you'd like to say “Hello, how are you?” in Spanish, you can use “*Hola, ¿cómo estás?” (informal/singular). If you are greeting someone in a more formal setting, you'll want to use “Hola, ¿cómo está?” (formal/singular).

How do you say place where you live? ›

synonyms for place of residence
  1. ZIP code.
  2. home.
  3. location.
  4. number.
  5. abode.
  6. direction.
  7. domicile.
  8. dwelling.

How do we call a place where we live? ›

OTHER WORDS FOR residence

1 habitation, domicile. 2 mansion. 5 stay, abode, sojourn.

Why is it rude to ask where someone is from? ›

Why? Because questions about someone's identity can be a microaggression — especially at work. A microaggression is a behavior or action — whether accidentally or purposefully — that subtly undermines someone's identity by playing into the stereotypes or historic biases about social groups.

What is another way of asking where do you live? ›

We can also use the present continuous to ask this question: “Where are you living?” It's grammatically correct to answer ”where do you live currently?” with a present simple or a present continuous answer: “I currently live in New York.” “I'm currently living in New York.”

How to respond to que hora es? ›

If somebody asks, ¿Qué hora es? (What time is it?) We say, “Son las 5” (It is 5 o'clock).

How do you respond to Wie? ›

“Wie geht's?” OR “Wie geht es dir?” Now, the classical small talk answer would be something like “fine”, “good” or “I am fine.”, “I am good.” etc. Of course one can answer the same things in German: “Gut” OR “Mir geht es gut.” / “Es geht mir gut.”

How do you respond to Bueno Y tu? ›

The standard answer is probably "Bien" ("Fine") or "Muy bien" ("Very good"). Of course, both of those responses are often expanded: "Muy bien, gracias.

What is hasta pronto mean in english? ›

Translation of "hasta pronto" into English

Hasta pronto. See you soon.

What is a response to Que Pasa? ›

If it is said as a greeting, for example someone entering the room and saying “Qué pasa?, it should be answered as if the person said “What's up?”. They don't really want to know what is up, they are just saying “Hi, how are you”. So, you can say “all good and you? ” = “todo bien y tú?

What does nos vemos en mean? ›

Answer and Explanation: Nos vemos is a phrase in Spanish that literally means 'we see each other', but is almost always used as an idiom for 'see you later'.

What is anos tienes? ›

¿Cuántos años tienes? How old are you?

How do you answer buenos dias que tal? ›

In short – the best (and easiest) response to 'buenos días' is a simple 'buenos días' in return! 'Hola, buenos días', 'buen día', 'igualmente' and 'como está' are also excellent responses! One of the phrases you´re going to hear all the time when in a Spanish speaking country is 'buenos días'.

Does De donde eres mean where are you from? ›

Saying where you're from in Spanish – Coffee Break Spanish To Go Episode 1.03. To say “I am from…” in Spanish you say soy de…. In this episode of Coffee Break Spanish To Go, Marina asks the question, ¿De dónde eres? (informal) or ¿De dónde es usted? (formal).

What is donde vives mean? ›

Where do you live?

How do you say where do you live in formal way? ›

We can also use the present continuous to ask this question: “Where are you living?” It's grammatically correct to answer ”where do you live currently?” with a present simple or a present continuous answer: “I currently live in New York.” “I'm currently living in New York.”

Where do you live vs Where are you living? ›

If you want to ask where someone is living, you'd usually ask "Where do you live". You can say "Where are you living" if they're living somewhere temporarily and will go soon (ex. If they're an exchange student). If their stay is much more brief (ex.

How do you describe where you live in Spanish? ›

Describing location

You can give more details about where you live by using está (is). For example: Vivo en una ciudad pequeña. Está en la costa y está cerca de Aberdeen - I live in a town.

What does que hora es means? ›

You can never be too cautious. I'm just making sure you're not missing that fiesta española you spent weeks thinking about! In addition to the now well-known ¿que hora es? which literally translates to “what hour is it?”, you can also ask ¿tiene hora? which is literally “do you have the hour?”.

What are sejours? ›

séjour m (plural séjours) stay, visit, sojourn. living room.

What is the meaning of VIVE LA? ›

French phrase. : long live the difference (as between the sexes) See the full definition.

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