What does it mean word for word?
Ven is the imperative form of the verb 'venir' (to come), and aquí means 'here'.
Which one should you use?
While ven aquí is used with friends, family or children, venga aquí is used with strangers or in formal settings. If you need to tell a group of people to move toward you, you should use the plural forms vengan aquí or venid aquí depending on the region.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, ven aquí is used to mean "come here" informally and the plural informal venid aquí is used to address a group of people you know well. In Mexico, ven acá may be used instead of ven aquí.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase ven aquí uses the informal 'tú' imperative. To address someone formally, use the 'usted' imperative venga aquí. To address a group, use the plural imperative vengan aquí or venid aquí (specifically in Spain when addressing a group of people you know well).
Did you know?
- Using the formal venga aquí with a close friend or family member can be used sarcastically to signal that the speaker is suddenly angry or serious.
- The word ven is a shortened imperative, but it shares a root with the Latin venire, which is also the ancestor of the English word 'convene'.
- The word aquí is derived from the Vulgar Latin phrase eccum hīc, which combines the words for 'this' and 'here'.
Examples in context
- Ven aquí y ayuda.Come here and help.This sentence shows how to use ven aquí to ask for help.Tatoeba #1229896 by wallebot, translation #3100621 by mhenderson5
- Ven aquí y ayúdame.Come here and help me.This sentence shows how to use ven aquí to ask someone to help you.Tatoeba #842241 by Shishir, translation #61596 by CK
- Ven aquí y siéntate.Come here and sit down.This sentence shows how to use ven aquí to tell someone to sit down.Tatoeba #2149095 by Shishir, translation #1860747 by CK
- Disculpe, ¿puede usted venir aquí, por favor?Excuse me, can you come here, please?
- ¡Oye, ven aquí un momento!Hey, come here for a moment!
- 26 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María is calling Javier to look at something on the floor.
- María¡Javier, ven aquí!Javier, come here!
- Javier¿Qué pasa, María?What's happening, María?
- MaríaVen aquí y mira esto.Come here and look at this.
- JavierVale, ya voy.Okay, I'm coming.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aquí, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
