Ici vs Là vs Là-bas – Here vs There vs Over There
This short guide explains when to use ici, là and là-bas to point to locations relative to the speaker and listener. Each section gives quick examples so you can feel the difference in natural contexts.
Ici
Use ici to indicate a place very near the speaker, often exactly where they are or where they can immediately point. Think of the spot "right here."
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 📍 Je l’ai posé ici, sur la table près de moi. | I put it here, on the table next to me. |
| 🪑 Je suis assis ici, à côté de la fenêtre. | I am sitting here, next to the window. |
| 👜 Mon portefeuille est ici, dans mon sac. | My wallet is here, in my bag. |
| 📖 Regarde le plan, il est marqué ici. | Look at the map, it’s marked here. |
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Là
Use là to refer to a place slightly farther from the speaker, or relative to the listener; it signals "there" as opposed to "right here." It can point to a nearby spot that is not exactly at the speaker's location.
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🧴 La bouteille est là, près de l’évier. | The bottle is there, near the sink. |
| 🪣 Mets les serviettes là, sur l’étagère. | Put the towels there, on the shelf. |
| 🕯️ Les bougies sont là, au centre de la table. | The candles are there, in the center of the table. |
| 🔑 J’ai laissé les clés là, sur le canapé. | I left the keys there, on the couch. |
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Là-bas
Use là-bas to indicate a place more distant from both the speaker and listener, often out of immediate reach or in the background. It translates to "over there" and emphasizes distance.
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🏡 Ils dînent là-bas, sur la terrasse. | They are dining over there, on the terrace. |
| 🐕 Le chien joue là-bas, près du grand arbre. | The dog is playing over there, near the big tree. |
| 🚶 Regarde, quelqu’un marche là-bas dans la rue. | Look, someone is walking over there in the street. |
| 🎈 Les enfants jouent là-bas avec le ballon. | The children are playing over there with the ball. |
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Summary
In short, use ici for very near the speaker, là for a nearby place slightly away, and là-bas for more distant locations. These small differences help listeners picture exact spots and make speech sound natural.
Usage
Practice switching between ici, là and là-bas with real objects around you: point to a cup and say ici, to a table and say là, and to a corner and say là-bas. Short, physical examples solidify the pattern.
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Last updated: Tue Sep 16, 2025