馃嚛馃嚜 German phrases

How to Say "Where are you from?" in German

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
Woher kommst du?
"Where are you from?" in German 路 say it like voh-hair kohmst doo

The most natural way to say "Where are you from?" in German is Woher kommst du?. Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

Woher kommen Sie?
Use this in formal situations or when addressing someone you don't know well.
Wo bist du her?
This is a more casual and colloquial way to ask.

When to use it

You can use this phrase when meeting someone new and you want to know their background. It is a friendly way to start a conversation. Use the formal variant when speaking to someone older or in a professional setting.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "Where are you from?" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in German

GermanEnglish
Woher kommst du?Where are you from?
Common mistake
A common mistake is using 'Wo bist du?' which means 'Where are you?' instead of asking about origin.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear Woher kommst du?, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking German with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

Is it okay to ask this question to strangers?

Yes, it is generally acceptable in casual conversations.

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