Spanish A1: Asking and Answering Simple Questions — ¿Cómo te llamas?, ¿De dónde eres?
Want to start chatting in Spanish today? Master a handful of super-useful questions and answers, and you’ll be able to introduce yourself, say where you’re from, and keep a basic conversation going. In this lesson, you’ll learn the most common question patterns, clear answer formulas, and polite forms—and you’ll practice them right away with short, beginner-friendly exercises.
The essential question words
Spanish questions often start with a question word. Learn these first, and many common questions will make sense.
Introductions: names and saying hi
When you meet someone, these are your go-to lines:
Me Ana.
Origin and location: where you’re from, where you live
Use “ser” for origin, and “vivir” for where you live.
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| yo | soy |
| tú | eres |
| él/ella/usted | es |
| nosotros/nosotras | somos |
| vosotros/vosotras | sois |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | son |
Build: I am from + country.
Tip: “ser” vs. “estar”
At A1, use “ser” for identity and origin (Soy de Perú). Use “estar” mainly for temporary states (Estoy cansado) and location (Estoy en casa). For “Where do you live?”, use “vivir”: “Vivo en Madrid.”
Age and numbers
Spanish uses “tener” (to have) for age—not “ser” or “estar.”
Tengo años.
Yes/No questions and saying “no”
Yes/No questions are simple in Spanish. Often the subject is left out. Answer with “sí” (yes) or “no” (no). For negation, Spanish uses “no” before the verb—and you can have a sentence like “No, no soy estudiante.” The first “no” answers the question; the second “no” negates the verb.
Polite forms: tú vs. usted and greetings
Spanish has informal (tú) and formal (usted). Use usted with older people, in service contexts, or to be polite. Common polite phrases help you sound friendly and natural.
Handy patterns you can reuse
Here are templates you can plug information into:
- ¿Cómo te llamas? → Me llamo + name.
- ¿De dónde eres? → Soy de + city/country.
- ¿Dónde vives? → Vivo en + city.
- ¿Cuántos años tienes? → Tengo + number + años.
- ¿Cuál es tu número de teléfono? → Es + number.
- ¿Cómo estás? → Estoy + feeling (bien, cansado, ocupado).
No, soy de Chile.
Culture note: first contacts in Spanish
When meeting someone, a simple “Hola” works anywhere. In Spain and many Latin American countries, people often say “Hola, ¿qué tal?” (Hi, how’s it going?). In formal situations, “Buenos días” (Good morning), “Buenas tardes” (Good afternoon), or “Buenas noches” (Good evening/night) are common. Use usted with elders or in service contexts (banks, government offices) until invited to use tú. Smiles and a friendly tone go a long way!
Mini practice: mix and match answers
Try answering these quickly aloud:
- ¿Cómo te llamas? → Me llamo + your name.
- ¿De dónde eres? → Soy de + your city/country.
- ¿Dónde vives? → Vivo en + your neighborhood or city.
- ¿Cuántos años tienes? → Tengo + your age + años.
- ¿Eres estudiante? → Sí, soy estudiante / No, no soy estudiante.
You’ve got this!
You now have the key building blocks to ask and answer simple questions in Spanish. Keep these patterns handy, practice them with a friend, and repeat the exercises until they feel automatic. Next time you meet a Spanish speaker, try: “Hola. ¿Cómo te llamas?”—then follow up with “¿De dónde eres?” and “¿Dónde vives?” Little steps lead to real conversations.