vieni qui
The English phrase 'come here' is translated into Italian as vieni qui.
This phrase is a command used to tell someone to move toward the speaker's current location.
What does it mean word for word?
vieni is the second-person singular imperative of the verb venire (to come) and qui means 'here'.
Which one should you use?
While vieni qui is a command to move toward the speaker, the phrase vieni là would mean 'go there' or 'come to that place'.
How does it change in a sentence?
vieni qui uses the informal imperative. If you are addressing someone formally, use venga qui. If you are telling more than one person to come here, use venite qui instead of vieni qui.
Did you know?
- If a parent tells a child vieni qui in a stern tone, it functions less as a request for proximity and more as a precursor to a reprimand, similar to 'come here this instant' in English.
- While the standard spelling is qui, many regional Italian dialects still preserve an older, double-consonant sound from the Vulgar Latin ancestor, sounding almost like 'kwee'.
- In Italy, the phrase vieni qui is often accompanied by a hand gesture where the palm faces up and the fingers curl toward the speaker in a beckoning motion.
Examples in context
- Vieni qui e aiutami.Come here and help me.This sentence shows how to use vieni qui to ask for help.Tatoeba #1502880 by rado, translation #61596 by CK
- Tu vieni qui spesso?Do you come here often?This sentence uses vieni qui to ask if someone visits a location often.Tatoeba #1992551 by Guybrush88, translation #619636 by ulyssemc1
- Vieni qui ad aiutare.Come here and help.This sentence shows vieni qui used to request someone come here to help.Tatoeba #3100624 by Guybrush88, translation #3100621 by mhenderson5
- 40 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Martina are in the kitchen.
- MatteoMartina, vieni qui un momento.Martina, come here for a moment.
- MartinaCosa c'è, Matteo?What is it, Matteo?
- MatteoVieni qui, guarda questo.Come here, look at this.
- MartinaOh, è bellissimo!Oh, it is beautiful!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries qui, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
