SoyGuiri Blog

How to Say Here in Spanish: Aquí, Ahí, Allí & Real-Life Examples 📍

Written by Elena Banciu | Jan 28, 2026 9:00:02 AM

Learning how to say here in Spanish is essential if you want to sound natural in real conversations 💬 Words like aquí, ahí or allí appear constantly when giving directions, offering things or simply telling someone where you are.

In this blog, you’ll learn how to say here in Spanish, the difference between ahí and allí, common Spanish slang for here, useful locatives, and everyday expressions like here you go or I’m here — all explained in a simple, practical and fun way 💡

Let’s go! 🚀

🗣️ What Is Spanish Slang for Here?

In Spanish, there isn’t just one way to say here. In everyday conversations, Spaniards often use more informal and flexible expressions instead of just aquí 📍

👉 Por aquíaround here

This is one of the most common informal ways to say here. It sounds relaxed and very natural.

Estoy por aquí   → I’m around here.

 

Hay un bar por aquí    There’s  a bar around here.

 

You’ll hear this all the time when people don’t want to be too precise.

👈Aquí mismoright here

Used when you want to be very clear or emphatic.

Déjalo aquí mismo Leave it right here.

 

Estoy aquí mismo  →  I’m right here.

 

Perfect for real-life situations like shops, cafés or directions 🛍️☕

☝️Aquí (said with emphasis)

Sometimes it’s not a new word — it’s how you say it 👂

¡Aquí!  Here!

 

Very common when someone is calling you, taking attendance or looking for you 🙋‍♀️

👍 Por aquí andamos (very Spanish 😄)

A relaxed, friendly way to say you’re here or doing fine.

 — ¿Qué tal? 
 Pues por aquí andamos.
— How’s it going?
 — Here we are.

 

This is spoken Spanish only, but it sounds very natural.

💡 Key takeaway: There isn’t one single slang word for here. Spanish uses expressions, not fixed slang terms.

👉 aquí → neutral
👉 por aquí → informal
👉 aquí mismo → emphatic

If you understand these, you’ll understand real conversations much better 💬✨

🤔 Is It Allí or Ahí?

This question causes confusion because English uses there for everything — but Spanish doesn’t 😅 In Spanish, choosing between ahí and allí is not random. It depends on interaction, attention and shared space between speakers.

Spanish speakers are constantly adjusting these words depending on who they’re talking to and where the focus is 👀

📍 Ahíthere (within your shared space)

ahí is used when the place or object is:
👂close to the listener
👫 visible or obvious to both people
🗨️ part of the immediate interaction
 
 Typical situations:
☑️ correcting someone
⚠️ giving quick instructions
‼️ reacting in the moment
 
Examples:
Eso no va ahí  → That  doesn’t go there.
📌 Déjalo ahí, está bien → Leave it there, it’s fine.
📱El móvil está ahí, encima de la mesa The phone is there, on the table.

 

💡 Key idea: Don’t translate word by word. Always think in distance, not English translation.

📍 Allíthere / over there (outside the shared space)

allí is used when the place:
🌎 is not close to either speaker
🔇is not part of the immediate interaction
📜 often needs extra context (street, building, future plans)
 
Typical situations:
🗺️ talking about location
↪️ giving directions
📆 planning meetings
 
Examples:
🏨 El hotel está allí, cerca de la playa → The hotel is over there, near the beach.
🕗 Nos vemos allí a las ocho  → See you there at eight.
🙅 Nunca he estado allí   → I’ve never been there.

🧠 The real difference (not distance on a map)

The key difference is not metres or kilometres ❌
It’s about shared attention.

👉 ahí = where we’re both focused right now
👉 allí = a place outside this moment

This is why Spaniards switch between them so naturally.

❌ Common learner mistakes

Using allí when pointing at something close
❌ Using ahí for places that are clearly far away
❌ Translating there automatically

✔️ Think: Is this part of the conversation right now?

💡 Mini tip to remember it

👉 ahí = right there, where you are
👉 allí = over there, somewhere else

If you keep this in mind, you’ll avoid most mistakes 😊

🗺️ There in Spanish: More than One Way to Say It

In Spanish, "there" doesn’t just refer to a location — it’s often about a real situation: giving directions, reacting to something, or clarifying a point during a conversation 📍This is exactly why choosing between ahí and allí is so important — the words show where you are, who you’re talking to, and how you interact with the space around you

👉 Ahí = There (close to the listener)

Ahí is used when something is within the listener’s space or when the object is easily pointed to or visible to both of you. Think of it as there — but not too far.

🗣️Déjalo ahí  Leave it there.
🍴 El menú está ahí  → The menu is there (near you).

👉 Allí = Over there (far from both of you)

Allí is used when the object or place is far away from both the speaker and listener. It's the word for there when distance plays a role, whether it's physical or metaphorical.

🍸 El bar está allí → The bar is over there.
🙈Nos vemos allí mañana See you over there tomorrow.

 

💡 Tip: Think about interaction, not distance on a map.

The real difference between ahí and allí is not just about how far or close something is on a map, but about how you and the listener are connected to the space. This is very Spanishpractical and clear rather than elegant 😅✨

 🎁 How to Say Here You Go in Spanish

In Spanish, here you go isn’t only about handing someone an object 🎁 It’s also used when helping, serving, or finishing an action.

👉 Aquí tienes → neutral , polite, very common
👉 Aquí está →  focused   on the  objects
👉 Toma → informal, quick

More natural situations:

🔑 Aquí tienes  la llave     Here you go, the key.
📦 Aquí está tu pedido Here’s  your order.
💝 Toma, para ti  Here you go, for you.

You’ll hear these expressions constantly in cafés, shops, offices and everyday interactions — they’re part of basic social Spanish ☕🛍️

🙋‍♀️ How to Say I’m Here in Spanish (When and Why You Use It)

Saying I’m here in Spanish often means more than just location. It can show arrival, availability, or confirmation 📞

👉 Estoy aquí → stating where you are
👉 Ya estoy aquí → announcing arrival
👉 Aquí estoy → emphasising presence

Examples in context:

 ¿Puedes hablar ahora?
 Sí, estoy aquí 
 Can you talk now?
  Yes, I’m here.
Perdón por el retraso… ¡ya estoy aquí!    →  Sorry I’m late… I’m here now!
Tranquilo, aquí estoy     Don’t worry, I’m here.

 

These expressions are very common in calls, messages and face-to-face conversations 👋 💬

📌Locatives in Spanish (How They Shape Real Conversations)

Locatives like aquí, ahí, allí, por aquí or aquí mismo don’t just describe places — they help Spanish speakers organise space, movement and interaction 📍They are essential for:

🗺️  giving clear directions
🏃 reacting quickly (No, aquí)
☝️ guiding someone (Por aquí)
✅  correcting location (Allí no, aquí)

Examples you’ll hear naturally:

👆Ven por aquí  Come this way.
👉Aquí no, allí  Not here, there.
 👈 Vivo por aquí cerca  I live around here.

And to make these even clearer, we often use prepositions of place that link locatives with specific locations. So, locatives and prepositions together will allow you to sound more natural and accurate when explaining where things are.

📍 Locatives + Prepositions: How to Talk About Locations Like a Local

Now, let's go beyond aquí, ahí, and allí and look at prepositions of place. These help you explain exact locations and where things are in relation to other objects. By combining them with locatives, you’ll sound more fluent and accurate.

Here are the most common prepositions used with locatives:

📍 A la derecha deTo the right of

Use a la derecha de when something is to the right of another object.

La tienda está a la derecha de la iglesia The store is to the right of the church .
El cine está a la derecha de la biblioteca   The cinema is to the right of the library.

📍 A la izquierda deTo the left of

Use a la izquierda de when something is to the left of something else.

La casa está a la izquierda del banco  The house is to the left of the bank .
El restaurante está a la izquierda de la plaza  The restaurant is to the left of the square.

📍 Delante deIn front of

Delante de tells us that something is directly in front of another object.

La cafetería está delante de  la tienda The cafe is in front of the store.
La plaza está delante de la iglesia  The square is in front of the church.

📍 Detrás deBehind

Detrás de indicates that something is behind another object.

El coche está detrás de la casa The car is behind the house.
El parque está detrás del hospital  The park is behind the hospital.

Encima deOn top of

Encima de is used when something is on top of something else.

El libro está encima de la mesa   The  book is on top of the table.
La lámpara está encima de la mesita de noche  →The lamp is on top of the bedside table.

📍 Debajo deUnder, underneath

Use debajo de when something is under or beneath something else.

El gato está debajo de la camaThe cat is under the bed.
La mochila está debajo de la mesa  The backpack is under the table.

📍 EntreBetween

Entre is used to describe something that is between two things.

La biblioteca está entre el banco y el parque  The library is between the bank  and the park.
El restaurante está entre la tienda y la plaza  The restaurant is between the store and the square.

🎯 Final learner tip: Instead of translating, always ask yourself:

👉 Where am I?
👉 Where is the other person?
👉 Is it near or far?

If you answer those three questions, choosing between aquí, ahí and allí becomes much easier 🚀

🎥 Watch the video on Instagram to see how locatives and prepositions come together in real-life Spanish conversations!

🇪🇸 Aquí, Ahí and Allí in Real Spanish 

Here’s the truth 👀 Spaniards don’t stop to think: Is this ahí or allí? They just feel it.

And why? Because they use locatives together with their body 🕺👇👉

saying aquí while touching the table
saying ahí while pointing at you
saying allí with the arm fully stretched

So if you ever get stuck…
👉 use your hands. It helps more than you think 😄


🎯 Test your Spanish

Choose the correct answer ✅

1. Which word means "here" in Spanish?



2. What does "la casa está a la derecha de la tienda" mean?



3. What preposition is used for "on top of" in Spanish?



4. What does "la tienda está delante de la plaza" mean?



5. Which preposition would you use to say "under" in Spanish?



6. What does "el coche está detrás de la casa" mean?



7. Where would you say "la lámpara está encima de la mesa"?



8. What does "la biblioteca está entre el parque y el banco" mean?



9. What does "el restaurante está a la izquierda de la plaza" mean?



10. Which sentence is correct for "behind" in Spanish?



 



💬 Final interaction question

👉 If you were meeting a friend right now, would you say estoy aquí or estoy ahí? Why? 😄📍

Share it in the comments below!