Are you ever asked “de donde eres” and don’t know how to respond? If so, you’re not alone. Many people, regardless of their native language, are unsure of how to answer this question.
‘De donde eres’ is the Spanish way of asking ‘Where are you from?’ Just like the English translation of the question, the answer can come in several forms.
In this article, we will explore the meaning of “de donde eres” and provide tips for responding in a way that feels natural and authentic.
So, if you want to know more about the phrase “de donde eres” how it is used, read on!
16 Correct Responses to “De Donde Eres” in English
- I would rather not say.
- Why do you ask?
- I own the place.
- Do I look strange?
- I am [Nationality]
- I am from [Nation]
- I am from [State]
- I live in [Place]
- I was born in [place]
- I’m your neighbor.
- Not far from here.
- I am not from here
- I was born and bred here.
- I live nearby.
- I’m a native of this place.
- This is my house.
I would rather not say
Blame it on the right to speech. Anyone can say anything to you or ask anything and it’s up to you to react or not.
In some cases, it may be important for the person asking to know where you are from. The question of where you are from can refer to different things.
The person may be asking what group you represent. It may be a question of which country you hail from. It could also be a question of where you reside or where you were born.
In other cases, it may be the best option to keep your personal information from the person. You can simply tell him that you would rather not answer the question.
However, this response may just be useless if you still have to answer the question.
Why do you ask?
As mentioned earlier, it is up to you to answer a question you are being asked. Even in a court of law, you are not forced to answer questions, even when you are required to.
You may be required to say where you are from but it is still up to you to fulfill the requirements or defy the rules. If you are required to give an answer to the question, you may want to know why it is necessary to reveal personal information. This is what makes this question important.
A stranger or an acquaintance may also ask this question. It could be for any reason ranging from the flattering possibilities to the negative ones so you may want to know where the person is driving at before you assist with that information.
I own the place
Of course, you can only use this if you own the place. Actually, it’s not necessary. You can be joking and no one will nail you for it.
Whether this information is the truth or not, you can only use this response in some situations.
You may be in a gathering or event where visitors are being sorted and it is important to ask everyone where they are from.
Responding with this implies that you are from that place or you own the place and should not be asked.
A person may also ask this question as a stylish way of accusing you of trespassing. This response implies that you have every right to be where you are.
Do I look strange?
You can imagine being in a club with a special spot for camping. It would be normal to ask strangers where they come from when you see them in a camp that is filled with only members of your club.
This is not necessarily the situation but you must have been in a similar case.
If you are asked ‘De donde eres’ by a member of your clique who should know you, you can respond with this rhetorical question.
It indirectly suggests that you are not a stranger in that place and the person should know you are from there.
I am [Nationality]
You can simply answer the question that you have been asked by stating your nationality. Of course, this is just one way of answering the question.
By stating your nationality, this means you should say you are French if you are from France. People from America can respond by saying they are Americans. If you are from India, you can simply say you are Indian.
This response may not be what is expected if you are talking to someone standing in front of you or beside you.
You both could be from the same place that you are in. However, this is most likely what you are expected to say if you are talking to a person on social media.
I am from [Country]
This is basically the same as mentioning your nationality but you will be answering the question as it is asked.
Q: Where are you from?
A: I am from Saudi Arabia.
Just like the case of simply stating your nationality, the person may not be asking about your nation.
If you are from the same country you are presently in, the person may be able to tell that you are a citizen but unable to tell which state you are from.
However, on social media, you can state what country you are from.
I am from [State]
Instead of saying the country you are from, you can mention the state. As a French, you may not know of any state in South Korea.
In that case, if a stranger answers the question by mentioning a state within South Korea, you may get confused.
Of course, you have the option of asking which country the state is situated in and everyone will be okay.
However, this response is more suitable and straightforward if the person you are talking to is obviously from the same country as you.
It would be ridiculous for a French to introduce himself or herself as French if I am French and we were both in France. It would be an obvious fact that I was asking about something else.
I live in [place]
In some cases, It can sound quite stupid to talk about your nationality when you are asked where you are from.
Sometimes, the person asking just wants to know why you are where you are or, at least, wants to know if he or she can identify you.
Instead of saying what nation you are from, where you live may matter more. You can say ‘I live on the other side of the street’, then proceed to say why you are there. You can say ‘I live in the brown building’, then say what you have to say.
Also, some people may not actually care what citizenship you hold. If you are chatting on social media and you are asked this question, it is most likely to know where you reside.
You can decide to say both where you live and where you were born in.
I was born in [Place]
Saying where you were born in is another option. It sounds like a long way of expressing yourself since it seems shorter to say ‘I am from China’.
However, specifically stating where you were born will suggest that you either hold citizenship in more than one country or you reside in a different country from where you were born.
If that is the case, this response is perfect but you will be expected to say more (i.e. you can mention the other countries you hold citizenship in).
I’m your neighbor
As your neighbor, I would be pretty annoyed if you just asked me where I am from. Actually, it depends on the way you ask the question and what you mean.
‘De donde eres’ may refer to the place you hold citizenship in. It may also refer to the place you live in. You can respond with this statement if your neighbor asks where you reside.
Not far from here
You don’t want to mistaken the question. When you are asked about where you reside, it would be pretty absurd to talk about your nationality. However, it can be weird to describe where you live.
You can choose to name streets but what happens if you don’t know the name of the streets? You can either describe how many times the person will have to turn to get to your place… or you can simply say your place is not far from where you are.
If the person wants to know where you live, let him or her walk with you.
I’m not from here
The question may be asked out of suspicion that you are a foreigner. It is unnecessary to say what country you come from. You can simply confirm the suspicion by saying you are not from there.
The person will most likely ask again or start to guess. You can choose to answer or not.
I was born and bred here
As mentioned in the earlier option, the question may just be raised out of suspicion that you are not a citizen. Once you are sure of that, you can tell the person that you were born there and you grew up there.
I live nearby
You can just say this if you live nearby, instead of putting yourself through the strenuous task of describing your place or the distance.
I’m a native of this place
This is another way of saying you were born and bred in that place. You can only use this if you both are in the same town, or even in front of one another.
In that case, you would be referring to one place which is where you both are.
This is my house
A situation where you need this question is likely. You can be asked where you are from, even in your own territory. You just have to let the person know that you are where you belong.