Aprende a usar aquí, ahí y allá/alla en español con ejemplos claros para expresar ubicación, distancia y dirección. Descubre matices de uso, diferencias entre formas y expresiones comunes para evitar confusiones.
Learn to use aquí, ahí y allá/alla in Spanish with clear examples to express location, distance, and direction. Discover usage nuances, differences between forms, and common expressions to avoid confusion.
This short guide explains when to use aquí, ahí and allí to point to locations relative to the speaker and listener. Each section gives quick examples so you can feel the difference in natural contexts.
Aquí
Use aquí to indicate something very near the speaker, often within arm's reach or immediately at hand. Think of the object being "right here" next to you.
Usa aquí para indicar algo muy cercano al hablante, a menudo al alcance de la mano o justo a su lado. Piensa en el objeto como si estuviera "justo aquí" junto a ti.
Put the cup here, right where I can reach it.
Allí
Use allí to point to a place farther from both the speaker and listener, often out of reach or at a noticeable distance. It signals "over there" relative to the conversation.
Usa allí para señalar un lugar más lejos tanto del hablante como del oyente, a menudo fuera de alcance o a una distancia notable. Indica "allí" en relación con la conversación.
You can see the mountains over there, beyond the river.
Ahí
Use ahí for an intermediate location, often near the listener or a short distance from the speaker. It can mark a spot that is not as close as aquí but not as distant as allí.
Usa ahí para una ubicación intermedia, que suele estar cerca del oyente o a poca distancia del hablante. Puede marcar un punto que no está tan cerca como aquí pero tampoco tan lejos como allí.
Leave the keys there, where you find them when you come in.
Summary
In short, use aquí for very near the speaker, ahí for a nearby spot often relative to the listener, and allí for more distant places. These small distinctions help listeners picture exact locations and make speech sound natural.
Usage
Practice switching these words in real situations: point to an object, ask where something is, and notice whether the item is within reach aquí, slightly away ahí, or farther off allí. Short dialogues and physical gestures speed up learning.
If you don't find it here, look there and then over there.
Suggested Reading

Practice Makes Perfect: Basic Spanish by Dorothy Richmond

No Nonsense Spanish Workbook by Eric W. Vogt & My Daily Spanish

The Everything Learning Spanish Book by Julie Gutin

Collins Easy Learning: Spanish Conversation by Collins Dictionaries

Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Conversation by Jean Yates

Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish by Margarita Madrigal

Spanish All-In-One For Dummies by Susana Wald & Cecie Kraynak

Easy Spanish Step-By-Step by Barbara Bregstein

Barron’s 501 Spanish Verbs by Christopher Kendris and Theodore Kendris

Complete Spanish Step-By-Step by Barbara Bregstein

Practice Makes Perfect: Complete Spanish Grammar by Gilda Nissenberg
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