Where are you from? Are you Italian?
'Di dove sei?' = di-DO-ve-sei. 'Italiano' = i-ta-LIA-no, stress on third syllable.
Ask this early in a first meeting to establish geography and background. Italians are curious about origins — both within Italy (which region, which city) and internationally. Follow up with your own origin to keep the exchange balanced.
'Di dove sei?' uses 'di' (of/from) + 'dove' (where) + 'sei' (you are). Alternative: 'Da dove vieni?' (where do you come from?). Both are correct; 'di dove sei' is slightly more common in central-southern Italy, while 'da dove vieni' is common everywhere.
Da dove vieni?
Where do you come from?
The 'da' version using motion toward/from
Di che città sei?
What city are you from?
More specific — asking for the city, not just the country
Sei del posto?
Are you local?
Useful when you want to know if someone is from the specific town you are in
Regional identity is extremely strong in Italy — often stronger than national identity. A Neapolitan will proudly say 'sono napoletano' before 'sono italiano'. When Italians meet, asking 'di dove sei?' quickly reveals a shared map of regional stereotypes, rivalries, and loyalties that is central to Italian social identity.