I don't get Spanish!?

Question

in the Spanish class I'm taking, my teacher doesn't explain things very well. In one of the notes I took, the translation for the sentence "Where are you from?" has two translations!!!

One is "De donde eres" and "De donde es usted"

I'm so confused!! why are there two translations???? Why am I not understanding this?

Answer 1

There are two translations because one translation is used formally and the other is used informally.

Answer 2

"¿De dónde eres?" is the informal version.

"¿De dónde es usted?" is the formal version.

I hope this helps!

Answer 3

The two translations are okay.What happen is,that in spanish the word you,is used in those meanings:eres like you are,(talking with somebody you know;and usted,same meaning like you are,but like talking with somebody you do not know,or you are not really a friend.Both eres and usted are personal pronouns like I,you,he she etc.I hope I help you a little bit.

Answer 4

"De donde eres?" is how you would ask a person you were familiar with or felt comfortable enough with to address as if you were friends.

"De donde es usted?" is how you would ask someone who was senior to you, or someone in a position of authority.  The "usted" form is more formal and signifies that you are going out of your way to show them respect.

The difference is like meeting someone about your own age on the sidewalk and in striking up a conversation, you say, "So, where are you from, Buddy?"  On the other hand, you meet someone in the same situation, but they are an older, dignified person, or a politician, or a cop, and in casual conversation, you say, "Where are you from, Sir?"

El Chistoso

Answer 5

i agree with first answer. ¡¡mucha suerte con el español!!

Answer 6

Both ask "Where are you from?" One is formal and the other is informal.

De donde eres- informal speaking to people who are your equals

De donde es usted- formal and used as a form of respect to an elder or someone who is highly respected- maybe a professor, judge, older relative or friend

EDIT- El chistoso hit it right on the head. Give him best answer.

Answer 7

one is formal(usted) and the other is informal (tu)

Answer 8

"El Chistoso" has explained excellently the difference bewteen "¿De dónde eres" and "¿De dónde es usted". He has certainly explained it better tahn any teacher of mine ever did.