hail from
B1 neutral inseparable transitive
In simple words
To come from a particular city, country, or place where you were born or grew up.
Literal meaning: In nautical use, a ship would 'hail' (call out its name and home port) when greeted by another vessel.
Meanings
1 B1
idiomatic
neutral
To come originally from a particular place.
"The new professor hails from a small town in rural Scotland."
"He hails from Hope, a small town in Arkansas."
— Commonly used phrasing in profiles of Bill Clinton; widely cited in US political journalism, 1990s
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Used across all English-speaking regions but has a slightly formal or literary feel compared to 'come from'. Often used in introductions, speeches, and journalism. Derived from a nautical greeting: ships would hail (call out to) passing vessels and state their port of origin.
Commonly used with
city country town village region state
Forms
Base
hail from
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hails from
he/she/it
Past simple
hailed from
yesterday
Past participle
hailed from
have + pp
-ing form
hailing from
continuous
Understand "hail from" better
Try:
Real video examples
Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.
Want to master this phrasal verb?
Practice "hail from" on Looplines