¿estás ahí?
The Spanish phrase for "are you there?" is ¿estás ahí?
¿estás ahí? is a question used to check if someone is present or listening, which is especially common during phone calls or digital chats when there is a sudden silence or a lack of response from the other person. You can also use ¿estás por ahí? to casually ask if someone is around or nearby.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase estás ahí literally means "you are there". It is composed of the verb estar (to be or to stay) in the second-person singular form and the adverb ahí (there).
Which one should you use?
¿estás ahí? refers specifically to presence or location. The variations ¿estás allí? and ¿estás acá? are also used to mean "are you there?" Additionally, ¿estás por aquí? can be used to ask if someone is there.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb estar is used in these phrases because the question refers to a temporary state of presence or location, rather than a permanent characteristic. When speaking to someone you address with the formal "usted", you should use the form ¿está ahí? instead of ¿estás ahí?
Did you know?
- The word ahí is a linguistic hybrid, formed by joining the Old Spanish prefix a- with the word y which meant 'there'.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, if you ask ¿estás ahí? during a phone call and the line is silent, the other person might respond with dime, which means 'tell me'.
- In some regions, ¿estás ahí? can be used sarcastically to ask if someone is mentally present or paying attention during a conversation.
Examples in context
- ¿Estás ahí?Are you there?
- Hola, ¿estás ahí? No te oigo.Hello, are you there? I can't hear you.
- Dime algo, ¿estás ahí?Tell me something, are you there?
Example conversation
Javier is calling Sofía on a video call but the screen froze.
- JavierSofía, ¿estás ahí?Sofía, are you there?
- SofíaSí, Javier, pero mi internet es muy lento.Yes, Javier, but my internet is very slow.
- JavierTe oigo un poco mal.I hear you a little badly.
- SofíaLo siento, intentaré moverme a otra habitación.I'm sorry, I will try to move to another room.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ahí, CC BY-SA 4.0.
