What does it mean word for word?
Literally, ich komme aus translates to "I come from".
Which one should you use?
While Ich bin aus is grammatically possible, ich komme aus is the much more natural and standard way to state your origin in German. For more specific nuances, Ich stamme aus means "I originate from" (often emphasizing ancestral or ethnic background) and Ich bin gebürtig aus means "I am originally from" (implying being born in a specific place).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Bavarian dialect, I is sometimes used instead of Ich.
How does it change in a sentence?
The preposition aus always triggers the dative case for the place name that follows. If the place name has a grammatical gender, such as the feminine Schweiz, you must include the article der in the dative case, as in ich komme aus der Schweiz.
Did you know?
- The phrase ich komme aus can be used metaphorically to describe the origin of an idea or a product, not just a person.
- In certain southern dialects, the ch sound in ich shifts to a soft sch sound, making it sound more like isch.
- The word aus is a 'doublet' of the English word 'out', meaning they both descended from the same ancient source but evolved through different paths to reach their current forms.
Examples in context
- Ich komme aus Afrin.I am from Afrin.This sentence demonstrates how to use ich komme aus with a place name.Tatoeba #8717153 by dilo1, translation #8717151 by dilo1
- Ich komme aus Ungarn.I am from Hungary.This sentence shows the use of ich komme aus with a country.Tatoeba #8225087 by Luiaard, translation #10314862 by timur_seber
- Ich komme aus Shikoku.I am from Shikoku.This sentence provides an example of using ich komme aus with a specific location.Tatoeba #501867 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #257934 by CN
- Ich komme aus Deutschland.I am from Germany.
- Ich stamme aus Österreich.I originate from Austria.
- Ich bin gebürtig aus der Schweiz.I am originally from Switzerland.
- Ich komme aus Berlin.I am from Berlin.
- Ich bin aus Bayern.I come from Bavaria.
- Ich komme ursprünglich aus Köln.I am originally from Cologne.
- I kumm' aus Wien.I come from Vienna.
- 21 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hannah and Lukas are meeting at a language school.
- HannahHallo, ich bin Hannah. Woher kommst du?Hello, I am Hannah. Where are you from?
- LukasIch bin Lukas. Ich komme aus Berlin.I am Lukas. I am from Berlin.
- HannahSchön! Ich komme aus München.Nice! I am from Munich.
- LukasDas ist eine tolle Stadt!That is a great city!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aus, ich, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
