2

To ask where someone is from, or to express where you are from, are the following questions phrased correctly and in a common, normal way?

Je viens des Etats-Unis. Je viens (suis?) de NY. (I am from NY.)

D'où venez-vous ?

1 Answer 1

4

Je viens des États-Unis/de New-York is possibly ambiguous. It might just mean you are travelling from the US/from NY. Je suis de New-York is okay and means you are from New-York city.

I would suggest:

— Je suis américain, j'habite New-York.
    Spoken (vous): Et vous, vous êtes d'où ?
    Spoken (tu): Et toi, tu es (t'es) d'où ?
    Formal: Et vous, d'où êtes vous (originaire) ?

6
  • D'où tu viens ? , Tu viens d'où avec ou sans Et toi, devant. Familier.
    – jcm69
    Commented Aug 4, 2017 at 21:04
  • @jcm69 J'évite « d'où tu viens » qui peut être parfois mal perçu.
    – jlliagre
    Commented Aug 4, 2017 at 23:00
  • Omg, you don't need à after habiter? Christ, the number of times I've said that....nobody ever stopped me. Commented Aug 5, 2017 at 5:51
  • 1
    @aerovistae à is optional here
    – jlliagre
    Commented Aug 5, 2017 at 6:04
  • 1
    @Aerovistae: It perfectly fine. Dropping it sounds a bit literary. Commented Aug 5, 2017 at 8:16

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.