How to Say Where You're From

Learn how to say where you're from

Dialogue

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Vocabulary (Review)

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Lesson Notes

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Lesson Transcript

Welcome to Can-Do Spanish by SpanishPod101.com

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to say where you're from in Spanish.

For example, "I'm from Florida." is

Soy de Florida.

Two passengers, Valeria Varela and Angel Salazar Almonte , are seated next to each other on a plane to Mexico.

Before you hear their conversation, let's preview some of its key components.

dónde

"where"

dónde

"from"

Listen to the conversation, and focus on Valeria's response.

Note: the speakers in this conversation use formal Spanish.

Ready?

¿De dónde es usted?

Soy de Florida.

Once more with the English translation.

¿De dónde es usted?

"Where are you from?"

Soy de Florida.

"I'm from Florida."

Let's break down the conversation.

Do you remember how Angel Salazar asks,

"Where are you from?"

¿De dónde es usted?

Let’s start with usted, a formal word meaning “you.” Usted. Usted.

Before usted is es. This literally means "is," but it translates as "are," as in "are you" when using formal Spanish. Es. Es.

Note: es comes from the verb, ser, meaning "to be." Ser.

Together, es usted. “are you” when using formal Spanish. Es usted.

Before this is dónde. "Where." Dónde. Dónde.

And at the beginning is de, meaning "from" in this context. De. De.

All together, ¿De dónde es usted? "Where are you from?" when using formal Spanish.

¿De dónde es usted?

Remember this question. You’ll hear it again later in this lesson.

Now, let's take a closer look at the response.

Do you remember how Valeria Varela says,

"I'm from Florida."

Soy de Florida.

First is soy. " am." Soy. Soy.

Note: soy is a shortened form of yo soy, “I am.” In Spanish, the yo, "I," is usually omitted.

Soy is from the verb ser, meaning "to be." Ser.

Next is de, "from" in this context. De.

Last is the state, Florida. "Florida."

Florida. Florida.

All together, Soy de Florida. "I'm from Florida."

Soy de Florida.

The pattern is

Soy de CITY NAME.

"I'm from CITY NAME."

Soy de CITY NAME.

To use this pattern, simply replace the {CITY NAME} placeholder with the name of your hometown.

Imagine you're from Sydney. In Spanish Sídney. Sídney. Sídney.

Say

"I'm from Sydney."

Ready?

Soy de Sídney.

"I'm from Sydney."

Soy de Sídey.

In Spanish, there are basically two language registers: the formal register, which is used to address strangers or people in business settings, and the informal register, which is used to talk to friends, family, and people younger than yourself.

When addressing a single person, there are two options.

Usted, when using the formal register, and

tú, when using the informal register.

Since this lesson's dialogue is between two strangers meeting for the first time, they use the formal register in this lesson.

Again, the key pattern is

Soy de CITY NAME.

"I'm from CITY NAME."

Soy de CITY NAME.

Let's look at some examples.

Listen and repeat or speak along with the native speakers.

Soy de Florida.

"I'm from Florida."

Valeria Varela : Soy de Florida.

Soy de Guadalajara.

"I'm from Guadalajara."

Soy de Guadalajara.

Emma : Soy de Seattle.

"I'm from Seattle."

Emma : Soy de Seattle.

Soy de Londres.

"I'm from London."

Soy de Londres.

Soy de Veracruz.

"I'm from Veracruz."

Soy de Veracruz.

Soy australiana.

"I'm Australian."

Soy australiana.

Did you notice how the last speaker uses a different pattern?

Soy australiana. "I'm Australian." Soy australiana.

Instead of de plus the {CITY NAME} placeholder, she uses an adjective for her nationality.

This pattern is

Soy NATIONALITY.

"I'm NATIONALITY."

In Mia Martin’s case, she uses a feminine adjective to describe herself.

Soy australiana.

In the case of a male speaker from Australia, he would use a masculine adjective, australiano, to describe himself.

Soy australiano. I’m Australian. Soy australiano.

You should be aware of this pattern, but for this lesson, we’ll use the pattern

Soy de CITY NAME.

"I'm from CITY NAME."

Let’s review the key vocabulary.

Guadalajara

"Guadalajara"

Guadalajara

Seattle

"Seattle"

Seattle

Londres

"London"

Londres

Veracruz

"Veracruz"

Veracruz

Veracruz.

Let's review.

Respond to the prompts by speaking aloud. Then repeat after me, focusing on pronunciation.

Ready?

Do you remember how to say “Florida?"

Florida.

And how to say "from?"

De.

Now, do you remember how Valeria Varela says,

"I'm from Florida."

Soy de Florida.

Do you remember how to say "where?"

Dónde.

And the formal word for "you?"

Usted.

Do you remember how Angel Salazar asks,

"Where are you from?"

¿De dónde es usted?

Do you remember how to say "London?"

Londres.

And how to say "Seattle?"

Seattle.

Do you remember how to say "Veracruz?"

Veracruz.

Let's practice.

Imagine you're Jack Jones from London, or Londres in Spanish.

Respond to Angel’s question.

Ready?

¿De dónde es usted?

Soy de Londres.

Listen again and repeat.

Soy de Londres.

Let's try another.

Imagine you're Emma Lopez from Seattle, or Seattle in Spanish.

Ready?

¿De dónde es usted?

Soy de Seattle.

Listen again and repeat.

Soy de Seattle.

Let’s try one more.

Imagine you're Victor Trejo from Veracruz, or Veracruz in Spanish.

Ready?

¿De dónde es usted?

Soy de Veracruz.

Listen again and repeat.

Soy de Veracruz.

You can also use the pattern with states and countries.

In this lesson, you learned how to say where you're from in Spanish. This plays an essential role in the larger skill of introducing yourself. Let’s review.

Do you remember how to say

"Nice to meet you."

Mucho gusto.

And the Spanish pronunciation of Valeria’s name?

Valeria.

Do you remember how Valeria says,

“I’m Valeria.”

Soy Valeria.

All together, do you remember how Valeria Varela introduces herself?

Mucho gusto, soy Valeria.

Imagine you're Jack Jones , from London.

Do you remember how to pronounce "Jack Jones" in Spanish?

Jack Jones

Respond to Angel Salazar Almonte 's self-introduction and follow-up question…

Ready?

Hola. Soy Ángel. Mucho gusto.

Mucho gusto. Soy Jack.

Listen again and repeat.

Mucho gusto. Soy Jack.

Do you remember how to say "London" in Spanish?

Londres

Now respond that you’re from London.

¿De dónde es usted?

Soy de Londres.

Listen again and repeat.

Soy de Londres.

Well done! This is the end of this lesson.

In this lesson, you learned how to say where you're from, an essential skill for introducing yourself.

Remember, these Can Do lessons are about learning practical language skills.

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