Woher kommst du?
The English phrase "where are you from?" is translated into German as Woher kommst du?
If you want to ask specifically which country someone comes from, you can use Aus welchem Land kommst du?
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Woher kommst du? is composed of Woher (where from), kommst (come) and du (you).
Which one should you use?
'Woher kommst du?' is used for singular 'you' in informal contexts, whereas Woher kommen Sie? is the formal singular/plural version.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Southern Germany and Austria, people sometimes use the phrase Wo bist du her? instead of Woher kommst du?
How does it change in a sentence?
When addressing a group of people you are on informal terms with, such as friends or children, use Woher kommt ihr?
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid the mistake of translating the English phrase literally as Wo bist du von?, as this is grammatically incorrect in German.
When do people say it?
A natural response to this question is Ich komme aus [country/city].
Did you know?
- The word du is a direct relative of the archaic English word 'thou'. Both words descend from the same Proto-Germanic root *þū.
- In German, the part 'her' in Woher acts like a directional arrow. While 'wo' means 'where', adding 'her' specifies that the movement is toward the speaker.
- In very formal German settings, asking someone where they are from might be preceded by a polite apology for the intrusion. Directly asking Woher kommen Sie? without a preamble can sometimes feel too abrupt in high-society contexts.
Examples in context
- Entschuldigen Sie, darf ich fragen, woher Sie kommen?Excuse me, may I ask where you come from?
- Hey, woher kommst du eigentlich?Hey, where are you from, by the way?
- Aus welchem Land kommst du? Ich interessiere mich für deine Herkunft.Which country do you come from? I'm interested in your heritage.
- Sag mal, wo bist du eigentlich her?Tell me, where are you actually from?
- Entschuldigung, woher kommst du?Excuse me, where are you from?
Example conversation
Laura and Felix are meeting at a language school.
- LauraHallo, ich bin Laura. Woher kommst du?Hello, I am Laura. Where are you from?
- FelixIch bin Felix und ich komme aus Berlin.I am Felix and I come from Berlin.
- LauraSchön dich kennenzulernen, Felix.Nice to meet you, Felix.
- FelixGleichfalls, Laura.Likewise, Laura.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries du, woher, CC BY-SA 4.0.
