When someone asks "Where are you from" do they want to know where you were born or where you grew up?

Question

I was born over seas and moved around ALOT! In conversations, I am always asked where I am from. Does that mean where was I born, where I live now, or where I lived for the longest??????HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

I was born in New Jersey but grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. My reply would be that I am from Pittsburgh.

I had a college French professor spring semester who was born in Coblenz, Germany, but she went to high school in McLean, Virginia. [Her father was a consular officer, so she lived all over Europe and Africa.] She says she is from "Washington, DC" because McLean, Virginia is a suburb and many people do not know the name of the suburb but they know Washington, DC.

I think in your situation, I would say I was from the place where I lived the longest. People who are residents of the town or city where you now live might be asking where you are from, so it would not be proper to say that you were from that city unless you were born there. Or, you could say that you have lived there for "30 years" or "it seems like forever" if you want to.

Answer 2

It depends on the situation. If you are at a professional conference, they probably mean where you live now. In other situations they probably mean where you were born or where you grew up/lived the longest.
I have the same problem, so I just ask what they mean.

Answer 3

I think it depends on who you're talking to and whether or not they 'think' and/or assume you have an accent.

For instance, say you were born & raised in California...and met someone who you knew definitely had a 'east coast accent', but you couldn't place the accent to any specific city. Thus, you'd ask "Where are you from"....Though, myself, when I'm in this type of situation, I usually ask "Where's the accent from?"

But I agree, I would normally respond with the city/state you were 'born in' when asked this city...and then follow it up with where you're living now.

Answer 4

I think they want to know where you're from... such as, where you lived before. But you could easily answer this question with a brief, "I was born in ________ and grew up in ___________." Just pick the place you feel made the most impact on your life b/c you moved around alot.

Or, to be vague, just answer, "lots of different places, too many to remember." And remember to smile.

Answer 5

It depends on the situation... if I'm talking to someone online and they ask that, I tell them where I've been living for the past eight years.

If my coworkers ask where I was from, I tell them where I grew up -- they obviously know where I am now.

Answer 6

I would personally tell them where I grew up and in some cases where I live in present time.

Answer 7

Tell them birth place, see if they are even interested. It may be the sort of question people just ask to be polite.

Seems like if it happened a lot, you'd already know what most people want to know.

Answer 8

I always say I grew up or spent most of my life in the Phoenix area.

Answer 9

i have the same problem! usually, i just say, 'i'm indian, and currently live in ***, although i grew up in ***.' although it really varies with the situation, and to whom you're talking, this generally works.

however, with business circles, just tell them where you live (you could also throw in your nationality; again, depends on what you feel like saying and in what company you're in).