Meaning of "Where are you from?"

[Ruaah]

Here is an example:
She was raised in a small town.
She was born at the hospital located three hours drive of the town. Because there wasn't hospital in the town.

If you were her, and were asked "where are you from?", what would you say?


Thank you very very much!

 

[emsr2d2]

I would answer with the name of the town where I was raised. If I was asked "Where were you born?", I would say the name of the hospital and explain that it's near [name of town I was raised in].

 

[Tdol]

I moved from the town I was born in to the one I was raised in when I was two. I have no memories of the first place and would always answer that I am from the town I grew up in.

 

[Jill Dorchester]

Agreeing with Tdol and emsr, usually "Where are you from?" refers to the place where you spent most of your growing-up years. Some folks are unable to answer this succintly; for example, children of military officers, who never stayed more than a few years in one city as their parents were transferred from base to base. In such a case the person often answers "Where are you from?" with a short explanation like "I'm an Army brat, I'm from all over the place!"

 

[Barb_D]

I was born in California but grew up in New York. Rather than giving my history, I just rephrase my answer: I grew up in New York.

 

[Rover_KE]

Many official forms require you to state your place of birth. In that case you must enter 'Tottleworth, Lancs, UK'.

 

[emsr2d2]

I'm going to get a lot of official forms rejected if I write that in for my place of birth! Either that, or a few months down the line from now, there will be an official report saying that Tottleworth is the most popular place in the world to be born. ;-)

 

[Roman55]

I am not a teacher.

When you register on this very site, one of the required fields is 'Home country' and 'Where do you come from?' is helpfully added to clarify what is being asked.

I was born and initially raised in Rome and later moved to England where my English father was from. I then underwent all of my secondary and further education in England. That is why my 'Member Info' states Italy as my home country.

The answer I give to people who ask me where I'm from depends on who they are and why they're asking.