# come from

CEFR A1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/come-from
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

This tells you the origin of a person or thing, like their home country, city, or where something was made.

For teachers: A transitive prepositional verb indicating the origin or source of a person, object, or idea.

## Examples

- She comes from Canada.
- This coffee comes from a small farm in Colombia and has a really rich flavour.
- Her deep-seated distrust of authority comes from a childhood spent under a repressive regime, shaping her political views for life.

## Pitfalls

- Not "Where you come from?" but "Where do you come from?" — In questions, the auxiliary verb 'do' is required before the subject 'you'.

## Usage notes

- Used to state the origin of a person (country, city) or a thing (source, material).
- Teaching tip: Contrast with 'be from', which is nearly synonymous for origin ('I come from Spain' vs. 'I am from Spain'), but 'come from' can also imply a cause ('His anger comes from insecurity').

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.