Here and there

English has "here" and "there". Spanish splits "there" in two: ahí for "there, near you" and allí or allá for "over there, far from both of us".

Here: Aquí and Acá

Both mean "here", near the speaker.

• aquí is used everywhere: Vivo aquí. - I live here.
• acá is very common in Latin America, especially with movement: Ven acá. - Come here.

In most of Latin America you can use either one. Acá can also be a little less exact, like "around here".

• Aquí está tu llave. - Here is your key.
• Aquí tienes. - Here you go.
• ¿Hay un hospital por aquí? - Is there a hospital around here?

There, Near You: Ahí

Ahí means a place near the person you are talking to, or a short distance away. In everyday speech it is the most common word for "there".

• Ahí está. - There it is.
• ¿Qué tienes ahí? - What have you got there?
• Déjalo ahí. - Leave it there.
• Ahí viene el autobús. - Here comes the bus.

Notice the last one: for something on its way toward you, Spanish often says ahí where English says "here".

Over There: Allí and Allá

Both mean somewhere far from the speaker and the listener.

• allí is a more exact place: Mi casa está allí. - My house is over there.
• allá is more general, and often used with movement: Vamos allá. - Let’s go there.

In Latin America, allá is heard much more than allí in everyday speech. Allá also works for faraway places in general: ¿Hace frío allá? - Is it cold there? (asked about another city or country).

Summary

The "here and there" words match the pointing words: este libro de aquí (this book here), ese libro de ahí (that book there), aquel libro de allá (that book over there).

Useful Phrases

Por in front of a place word makes it vaguer, like "around". Más makes it "closer" or "farther".

• por aquí - around here, this way
• por ahí - around there, somewhere
• más acá - closer (this way)
• más allá - farther, beyond
• de aquí a allá - from here to there