In this workshop you will practice short, natural Spanish questions you can use when you meet someone new. You will hear the questions, understand what they mean in English, and then take both roles in a simple conversation. The recordings give you clear models, so you can listen, repeat, and answer without guessing. You will also practice a polite invitation and a friendly reply. Take your time, speak out loud, and repeat each line until it feels comfortable.
Asking About Origin and Home
Two common questions help you learn where someone is from and where they live. The first question asks about origin. Listen and repeat: «¿De dónde eres?». This means "Where are you from?" The second question asks about home. Listen and repeat: «¿Dónde vives?». This means "Where do you live?" Notice that both questions use a form of the verb for "you" in an informal way. When you answer, you can say where you are from and then where you live. In the model conversation, one speaker answers with both pieces of information: «Soy de México, pero vivo en Guadalajara. ¿Y tú?». This means "I'm from Mexico, but I live in Guadalajara. And you?" The short question at the end invites the other person to answer too. Practice saying your own origin and home in the same pattern, then ask the other person with «¿De dónde eres?» or «¿Dónde vives?».
Asking About Work and Age
Two more questions help you talk about work and age. To ask about someone's job or main activity, listen and repeat: «¿A qué te dedicas?». This means "What do you do for work?" It is a friendly, open question. To ask about age, listen and repeat: «¿Cuántos años tienes?». This means "How old are you?" In Spanish, this question literally says "How many years do you have?" In the model conversation, one speaker asks about work after talking about origin: «Soy de Texas. ¿A qué te dedicas?». This means "I'm from Texas. What do you do for work?" The other speaker answers with a job: «Soy diseñadora. Oye, ¿te gustaría salir un día?». This means "I'm a designer. Hey, would you like to go out sometime?" Notice how the answer to the work question comes first, and then a new invitation follows. Practice asking and answering both questions with a partner or out loud on your own.
A Short Conversation with an Invitation
Now put the questions together in a short exchange. One person starts with a greeting and asks about origin: «Hola, ¿de dónde eres?». This means "Hi, where are you from?" The other person answers with origin and home, then asks the same question back: «Soy de México, pero vivo en Guadalajara. ¿Y tú?». This means "I'm from Mexico, but I live in Guadalajara. And you?" The first person answers and then asks about work: «Soy de Texas. ¿A qué te dedicas?». This means "I'm from Texas. What do you do for work?" The second person answers with a job and then makes a polite invitation: «Soy diseñadora. Oye, ¿te gustaría salir un día?». This means "I'm a designer. Hey, would you like to go out sometime?" You can play both roles. First, read the lines out loud. Then, cover the text and try to remember each line. Finally, switch roles and say the other person's lines. This helps you practice listening and speaking at the same time.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
¿De dónde eres?
Where are you from?
deh DON-deh EH-rehs
¿A qué te dedicas?
What do you do for work?
ah keh teh deh-DEE-kahs
¿Dónde vives?
Where do you live?
DON-deh BEE-behs
¿Cuántos años tienes?
How old are you?
KWAHN-tohs AH-nyohs TYEH-nehs
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Hola, ¿de dónde eres?
Hi, where are you from?Soy de México, pero vivo en Guadalajara. ¿Y tú?
I'm from Mexico, but I live in Guadalajara. And you?Soy de Texas. ¿A qué te dedicas?
I'm from Texas. What do you do for work?Soy diseñadora. Oye, ¿te gustaría salir un día?
I'm a designer. Hey, would you like to go out sometime?Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Exchange: Ask and Answer
You are meeting a new person at a language exchange. You will play both roles. Use the recordings as your model.
Your task: First, play the role of the person who asks. Say the greeting and the origin question from «Hola, ¿de dónde eres?». Then switch roles and answer with the line from «Soy de México, pero vivo en Guadalajara. ¿Y tú?». Next, ask the work question from «Soy de Texas. ¿A qué te dedicas?». Finally, switch roles again and answer with the line from «Soy diseñadora. Oye, ¿te gustaría salir un día?». Say each line out loud. You can pause the audio and repeat after each recording.
Reply Comprehension: Choose the Right Answer
You will hear or read a question and choose the best reply from the recordings. This checks if you understand the meaning.
Your task: Question 1: Someone asks you «¿De dónde eres?». Which reply fits best? A) «Soy de México, pero vivo en Guadalajara. ¿Y tú?» B) «Soy diseñadora. Oye, ¿te gustaría salir un día?». Question 2: Someone asks you «¿A qué te dedicas?». Which reply fits best? A) «Soy de México, pero vivo en Guadalajara. ¿Y tú?» B) «Soy diseñadora. Oye, ¿te gustaría salir un día?». Question 3: Someone asks you «¿Dónde vives?». Which reply fits best? A) «Soy de México, pero vivo en Guadalajara. ¿Y tú?» B) «Soy diseñadora. Oye, ¿te gustaría salir un día?». Say your answers out loud, then check below.
Recall and Role Swap
Now try to remember the conversation without looking at the text. You will play both roles and switch parts.
Your task: First, say the four lines in order from memory: «Hola, ¿de dónde eres?», «Soy de México, pero vivo en Guadalajara. ¿Y tú?», «Soy de Texas. ¿A qué te dedicas?», «Soy diseñadora. Oye, ¿te gustaría salir un día?». Then switch roles. If you were the person asking, now be the person answering. Say the lines again in the new role. If you forget a line, listen to the recording once and try again.
Common questions
Do I need to use the formal form of these questions?
The recordings use the informal form for "you." If you speak with someone in a formal situation, you can change the verb form. For example, the note for «¿De dónde eres?» shows a formal version. For now, practice the informal forms in the recordings, because they are the most common in friendly conversations.
Can I use these questions with anyone?
These questions are friendly and common in casual conversations. The question about age, «¿Cuántos años tienes?», can feel direct in some situations, so it is often used with people you know well or in informal settings. The other questions about origin, work, and home are generally safe in everyday conversation. Always pay attention to the other person's comfort and tone.
Sources and further reading
- spanish: ask basic personal questionsChecked September 2026
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