Countries and languages

Länder und Sprachen

Say where you come from, where you live, and which languages you speak.

Use “aus” for origin, “in” for where you live, and “sprechen” for languages. Learn country names carefully because some use an article and others do not.

Ich komme aus Thailand.

I come from Thailand.

Ich komme aus Bulgarien.

I come from Bulgaria.

Ich wohne in Deutschland.

I live in Germany.

Ich spreche Thai.

I speak Thai.

Ich spreche ein bisschen Deutsch.

I speak a little German.

Welche Sprachen sprechen Sie?

Which languages do you speak?

Woher kommen Sie?

Where do you come from?

Wo wohnen Sie?

Where do you live?

Ich komme aus + country; Ich wohne in + place; Ich spreche + language. Polite questions use Sie: Woher kommen Sie?

These forms are useful when meeting people, registering, or introducing yourself at work or school.

Do not answer a question about origin with a language. “Woher?” asks where you come from; “Welche Sprachen?” asks what you speak.

Origin: aus. Residence: in. Language: sprechen.

Introduce yourself with your country, current city, and the languages you speak.