come from
B1neutral
Definition
Meaning
to have one's origins in a particular place, family, background or source
to originate from; to be the result of; to be derived from; to be descended from; to be a product of
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often used in questions about origin ('Where do you come from?'). Can refer to geographical, social, cultural, or conceptual origins. The continuous form 'coming from' can indicate temporary location or perspective.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant grammatical differences. In US English, 'come from' is sometimes shortened colloquially to 'from' in questions ('Where are you from?' is more common than 'Where do you come from?' in casual speech).
Connotations
In British English, 'Where do you come from?' can sound slightly more formal or old-fashioned than 'Where are you from?'
Frequency
More frequent in British English in full phrasal form; American English prefers simpler constructions where possible.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
SUBJECT + come from + PLACE/SOURCEQUESTION WORD + do/does/did + SUBJECT + come from?Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “come from a good place”
- “come from behind”
- “come from left field”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to discuss company origins, product sourcing, or idea provenance ('Our materials come from sustainable suppliers').
Academic
Used in research to indicate sources, origins, or derivation ('This theory comes from early 20th century sociology').
Everyday
Most common in personal conversations about birthplace, background, or immediate location.
Technical
Used in computing (data sources), linguistics (word origins), biology (species origin).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She comes from Manchester originally.
- Where does this tradition come from?
- The invitation came from the mayor's office.
American English
- He comes from a military family.
- Where did that idea come from?
- The funding comes from private donations.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I come from Italy.
- She comes from a big family.
- Where do you come from?
- This recipe comes from my grandmother.
- He comes from a wealthy background.
- The noise is coming from the next room.
- The concept comes from ancient Greek philosophy.
- Her confidence comes from years of experience.
- Many English words come from French or Latin.
- His scepticism comes from having been misled before.
- The policy comes from a desire to reduce inequality.
- Such innovations typically come from cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a package with a RETURN ADDRESS label showing where it COMES FROM.
Conceptual Metaphor
ORIGINS ARE SOURCES (ideas 'flow' from their source); BACKGROUND IS ROOTEDNESS (people are 'rooted' in their homeland).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation of 'приходить от' for geographical origin. Use 'быть из' concept. Remember that 'come from' in questions often maps to 'откуда' not 'где'.
- Russian speakers might incorrectly use 'come from' for temporary location ('I come from work' instead of 'I've come from work').
Common Mistakes
- Using present continuous for permanent origin ('I am coming from Spain' ×), Using wrong preposition ('come of' ×), Omitting auxiliary in questions ('Where you come from?' ×).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'come from' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not inherently rude, but can be perceived as intrusive if asking about ethnicity rather than geographical origin. 'Where are you from?' is often safer.
Yes, but only for temporary location/source ('The water is coming from a broken pipe'), not for permanent origin.
They're largely interchangeable for origin. 'Be from' is more common in simple statements; 'come from' can emphasise the process or journey of originating.
Typically with place of origin ('I come from Tokyo'), but can also include background ('I come from a family of doctors').