D'où viens-tu ?
The phrase "where do you come from?" in French is D'où viens-tu ?
What does it mean word for word?
The opening part, D'où, is a contraction of de (from) and où (where).
Which one should you use?
D'où viens-tu ? uses the informal tu, while D'où venez-vous ? is the formal or plural version. For even more specific inquiries, De quel pays êtes-vous originaire? asks which country someone is originally from.
How does it change in a sentence?
When addressing a group of people, a stranger or a superior, use the formal/plural form D'où venez-vous ?
Did you know?
- The verb venir used in this phrase doesn't just mean 'to come' but is also the key to the French 'immediate future' tense, used to describe things about to happen.
- In many French-speaking cultures, asking D'où viens-tu ? can be a sensitive question regarding citizenship or immigration status rather than just a casual inquiry about one's hometown.
- The word où is a homophone for ou meaning 'or'. The grave accent is the only visual clue that the speaker is asking about a location rather than offering a choice.
Examples in context
- Vous venez d'où, madame?Where do you come from, madam?
- Excusez-moi, de quel pays êtes-vous originaire?Excuse me, which country are you originally from?
- Salut! Tu viens d'où?Hi! Where do you come from?
- Dis-moi, c'est quoi ton pays d'origine?Tell me, what is your country of origin?
- Et toi, t'es d'où?And you, where are you from?
- Je viens de Londres.I come from London.
- D'où viens-tu ?Where do you come from?
- Excuse-moi, d'où viens-tu ?Excuse me, where do you come from?
Example conversation
Manon and Nathan are meeting for the first time at a party.
- ManonSalut, d'où viens-tu ?Hi, where do you come from?
- NathanJe viens de Londres, et toi ?I come from London, and you?
- ManonMoi, je suis de Paris.Me, I am from Paris.
- NathanC'est super, j'adore Paris !That's great, I love Paris!
