Spanish Phrase
¿De qué nacionalidad eres?
Meaning
This is a direct question used to ask someone about their country of origin or citizenship. It literally translates to 'Of what nationality are you?' and is a standard way to inquire about ethnic or national identity.
When to use
This phrase is typically used during introductions, formal registrations, or when meeting someone for the first time in a social or professional setting. It is slightly more specific and formal than asking 'Where are you from?'.
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿Dequénacionalidaderes?
De qué
The preposition 'de' is required here to indicate origin or belonging to a category.
Eres
This is the informal 'tú' form of the verb 'ser', which is used for permanent characteristics like nationality.
🗨In Conversation
Mucho gusto, me llamo Juan. ¿De qué nacionalidad eres?
Nice to meet you, my name is Juan. What nationality are you?
Soy canadiense, pero vivo en España.
I am Canadian, but I live in Spain.
✕Common Mistakes
¿Qué nacionalidad eres?
In Spanish, you must include the preposition 'de' because you are 'of' a nationality.
¿De qué nacionalidad es?
If you are addressing someone informally as 'tú', you must use 'eres'. Use 'es' only for the formal 'usted'.
↔Alternatives
¿De dónde eres?
Where are you from?
¿Cuál es tu nacionalidad?
What is your nationality?
Cultural Tip
While '¿De dónde eres?' is the most common way to ask about someone's origin in daily life, 'nacionalidad' is the standard term used in official documents and administrative contexts throughout the Spanish-speaking world. In some regions, people may identify more with their city or province than their country, so be prepared for a specific local answer.