d'où tu viens
The English phrase "where your from" is translated into French as d'où tu viens.
This phrase is used to ask someone about their place of origin or their nationality.
Which one should you use?
While d'où tu viens is a standard way to ask the question, you can use the inverted form D'où viens-tu ? to be more formal. If you are speaking to a stranger, a superior or a group of people, you should use the form d'où vous venez instead of d'où tu viens.
How does it change in a sentence?
When addressing a group of people or a single person in a formal context, change the phrase to d'où vous venez.
When do people say it?
When someone asks you this question, the standard way to respond is to use the verb venir followed by de, resulting in the phrase Je viens de…
Did you know?
- In many French-speaking African countries, the way people respond to d'où tu viens might focus more on their ethnic group or tribe than on a specific city or country.
- French uses the same verb venir for 'coming from' a place and 'coming from' a specific point in time, such as 'coming from a long meeting'.
- While 'where are you from' is a standard icebreaker in English, asking D'où tu viens ? in French can sometimes feel a bit more personal or intimate depending on the tone of voice.
Examples in context
- Je suis originaire du CanadaI am originally from Canada
- Je viens de Londres.I come from London.
- Je suis originaire de Berlin.I am originally from Berlin.
- Je viens de Tokyo.I come from Tokyo.
- Je suis de Sydney.I am from Sydney.
- Dis-moi, d'où tu viens ?Tell me, where are you from?
- Je me demandais d'où tu viens.I was wondering where you are from.
- Est-ce que je peux demander d'où tu viens ?Can I ask where you are from?
Example conversation
Nathan and Manon are meeting for the first time at a party.
- NathanSalut, moi c'est Nathan. D'où tu viens ?Hi, I'm Nathan. Where are you from?
- ManonEnchantée, je m'appelle Manon et je viens de Lyon.Nice to meet you, my name is Manon and I am from Lyon.
- NathanAh super, c'est une très jolie ville !Ah great, it is a very pretty city!
- ManonMerci beaucoup, c'est gentil.Thank you very much, that's kind.
