da dove vieni
The English phrase 'where you are from' is translated into Italian as da dove vieni.
This phrase is used to ask someone about their place of origin or nationality. An alternative way to ask this is using the verb 'to be' with the phrase di dove sei. When stating where you are from informally, Italians often omit the 'io' pronoun and simply say Sono di Milano. For a more formal way to express your origin, you can say Sono originario/a di [place name].
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase da dove vieni literally translates to 'from where you come'.
Which one should you use?
If you are speaking to someone in a formal or polite context, use da dove viene instead. To ask a group of people where they are from, use da dove venite.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can change the verb to adjust who you are talking about: use da dove viene to ask where a third person (he or she) is from, and use da dove venite when asking a group of people where they are from.
Did you know?
- If you answer Sono di [city], you are using the same preposition di that Italians use to describe the 'flavor' or 'type' of a product.
- The word dove descends from the Latin phrase dē ubi, which literally meant 'from where'.
- In very formal settings, instead of da dove viene, Italians might use the noun provenienza to ask about a person's point of origin.
Examples in context
- Buongiorno, mi chiamo Giovanni e sono originario di Roma.Good morning, my name is Giovanni and I am originally from Rome.
- Ciao! Io sono di Milano.Hi! I am from Milan.
- E tu? Di dove sei?And you? Where are you from?
- Scusa, da dove vieni?Excuse me, where are you from?
- Posso chiederti da dove vieni?Can I ask you where you are from?
- Voglio sapere da dove vieni.I want to know where you are from.
Example conversation
Two people are meeting at a social gathering.
- SofiaCiao! Da dove vieni?Hi! Where are you from?
- AlessandroVengo dalla Spagna, e tu?I am from Spain, and you?
- SofiaIo sono di Roma.I am from Rome.
- AlessandroPiacere di conoscerti, Sofia!Nice to meet you, Sofia!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries da, dove, CC BY-SA 4.0.
