Signification
Asking for origin.
Contexte culturel
Asking 'Nerelisin?' is a sign of interest and friendliness, not an interrogation. It's often the first step in building a 'Hemşehri' bond. In villages, people might ask 'Kimlerdensin?' (Which family are you from?) instead of 'Nerelisin?', as family lineage is the primary identifier. In big cities, 'Aslen nerelisin?' is used to distinguish between where someone lives and their family's ancestral province. For Turks living abroad, 'Nerelisin?' often refers to which city in Turkey their family emigrated from.
The 'Aslen' trick
If you live in a different city than where you were born, always use 'Aslen' to sound more native.
Vowel Harmony
Remember that your answer must match the vowels of your city. İstanbullu (u-u), İzmirli (i-i).
Signification
Asking for origin.
The 'Aslen' trick
If you live in a different city than where you were born, always use 'Aslen' to sound more native.
Vowel Harmony
Remember that your answer must match the vowels of your city. İstanbullu (u-u), İzmirli (i-i).
Hemşehri Power
If you find out someone is from the same city as you, say 'Hemşehriyiz!' (We are fellow countrymen) to instantly make a friend.
Don't be shy
Turks love this question. Don't feel like you are being nosy; it's a standard part of polite conversation.
Teste-toi
Complete the question with the correct suffix.
Sen nere____?
The suffix '-li' indicates origin and '-sin' indicates 'you are'.
How would you answer 'Nerelisin?' if you are from London (Londra)?
Nerelisin?
You need the origin suffix '-lı' and the first-person suffix '-yım'.
Match the question to the correct formality level.
Match the following:
Each variation has a specific social context.
Fill in the missing line in the dialogue.
A: Merhaba, ben Elif. B: Merhaba Elif, ben Tom. A: _________? B: Ben İngiltereliyim.
The answer 'Ben İngiltereliyim' (I am from England) indicates the question was about origin.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Formal vs Informal
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesSen nere____?
The suffix '-li' indicates origin and '-sin' indicates 'you are'.
Nerelisin?
You need the origin suffix '-lı' and the first-person suffix '-yım'.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
Each variation has a specific social context.
A: Merhaba, ben Elif. B: Merhaba Elif, ben Tom. A: _________? B: Ben İngiltereliyim.
The answer 'Ben İngiltereliyim' (I am from England) indicates the question was about origin.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, in Turkey it is considered a friendly and normal way to start a conversation.
You say 'Amerikalıyım'.
'Nerelisin' is informal (friends/peers), 'Nerelisiniz' is formal or plural.
No, for objects you would ask 'Nerenin?' (e.g., 'Nerenin şarabı?' - Which place's wine?).
You can say 'Hem Türküm hem Almanım' or 'Yarı Türk yarı Almanım'.
They want to know your family's original hometown, not just where you currently live.
'Memleket nere?' is a very common casual/slang way to ask.
Londralıyım.
Usually, yes. You can also say 'Londra'dan geliyorum' (I come from London), but '-li' is more common.
'Türk' refers to ethnicity, 'Türkiyeli' refers to being from the country of Turkey. Both are used, but 'Nerelisin?' usually gets the '-li' answer.
Expressions liées
Memleket neresi?
similarWhere is the homeland?
Nereden geliyorsun?
similarWhere are you coming from?
Buralı mısın?
contrastAre you from here?
Yabancı mısın?
relatedAre you a foreigner?
Aslen nerelisin?
specialized formWhere are you originally from?
