Countries and Nationalities in Spanish: A1 Beginner’s Guide + List and Quiz
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Key Takeaways
- Learn how to say common countries and nationalities in Spanish
- Master the simple phrases to say where you are from
- Understand basic gender rules for nationalities
- Practice asking others about their origin
Introduction to Countries & Nationalities
Learning how to talk about where you and others are from is one of the first and most practical conversations you’ll have in Spanish. This guide will give you the essential vocabulary and simple grammar you need to talk about countries and nationalities with confidence.
Part 1: How to Talk About Origin
Basic Sentence Structures
To say where you are from, use these simple patterns with the verb Ser (to be):
Soy de + [country]
- Soy de España. (I am from Spain.)
- Soy de México. (I am from Mexico.)
Soy + [nationality]
- Soy español. (I am Spanish – male speaker)
- Soy mexicana. (I am Mexican – female speaker)
Asking Questions
- ¿De dónde eres? – Where are you from? (informal)
- ¿De dónde es usted? – Where are you from? (formal)
- ¿Eres de…? – Are you from…?
- ¿Eres español/española? – Are you Spanish? (male/female)
💡 A1 Grammar Tip: Remember that the verb Ser is used for permanent characteristics like origin. For more practice, see our A1 Ser vs. Estar Guide.
Part 2: Complete Country & Nationality Finder
Use the interactive widget below to explore all countries and their Spanish equivalents:
Part 3: Key Grammar Rules
Gender Agreement with Nationalities
Nationalities are adjectives and must match the gender of the person you’re describing:
Masculine endings: -o, -és, -án
- Juan es mexicano. (Juan is Mexican.)
- Carlos es francés. (Carlos is French.)
- Pedro es alemán. (Pedro is German.)
Feminine endings: -a, -esa, -ana
- María es mexicana. (Maria is Mexican.)
- Ana es francesa. (Ana is French.)
- Laura es alemana. (Laura is German.)
Nationalities That Don’t Change
Some nationalities ending in -e, -a, or -í have the same form for both genders:
- estadounidense (American)
- canadiense (Canadian)
- belga (Belgian)
- pakistaní (Pakistani)
Examples:
- Él es estadounidense. (He is American.)
- Ella es estadounidense. (She is American.)
💡 A1 Grammar Tip: Understanding adjective agreement is crucial. Learn more in our Spanish Adjectives Guide.
Capitalization Rule
Important: Unlike English, nationalities are NOT capitalized in Spanish.
- ❌ Él es Americano.
- ✅ Él es americano. (He is American.)
Part 4: Practice Dialogues
Dialogue 1: Meeting Someone New
Carlos: Hola, soy Carlos. ¿De dónde eres?
(Hi, I’m Carlos. Where are you from?)
Sarah: Hola Carlos. Soy de Estados Unidos. Soy estadounidense. ¿Y tú?
(Hi Carlos. I’m from the United States. I’m American. And you?)
Carlos: Soy de España. Soy español.
(I’m from Spain. I’m Spanish.)
Dialogue 2: Talking About Friends
Ana: Mi amigo Luca es de Italia. Es italiano.
(My friend Luca is from Italy. He is Italian.)
Pedro: ¡Qué interesante! Mis amigos son de Argentina y Chile.
(How interesting! My friends are from Argentina and Chile.)
Ana: ¿Son argentinos y chilenos?
(Are they Argentine and Chilean?)
Pedro: Sí, exacto.
(Yes, exactly.)
Quick Reference Chart
| Question | Answer Examples |
|---|---|
| ¿De dónde eres? | Soy de México. (I’m from Mexico.) Soy mexicano. (I’m Mexican – male) |
| ¿De dónde es él/ella? | Él es de España. (He’s from Spain.) Ella es española. (She’s Spanish.) |
| ¿Son de…? | Sí, somos de Colombia. (Yes, we’re from Colombia.) |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Capitalization: Never capitalize nationalities in Spanish.
- Gender Agreement: Always match the nationality to the person’s gender.
- Verb Confusion: Use Ser (not Estar) for origin and nationality.
- Preposition: Remember it’s “de” + country, not “from” like in English.
Ready to Practice?
Now that you know how to talk about countries and nationalities in Spanish, it’s time to test your knowledge!
Take our Countries & Nationalities Quiz ► to practice this essential vocabulary.
What’s Next in Your A1 Spanish Journey?
◄ Professions and Jobs in Spanish | Personal Descriptions in Spanish ►
