Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA |
|---|---|
| lá | /ˈla/ (Brazil) /ˈla/ (Portugal) |
| aí | /aˈi/ (Brazil) /ɐˈi/ (Portugal) |
| ali | /aˈli/ (Brazil) /ɐˈli/ (Portugal) |
In Portuguese, the choice of word for 'there' depends on the physical proximity of the location to the speaker and the listener. Use aí to refer to the listener's immediate vicinity or current location. Use ali for a place that is somewhat close and visible to both people. Use lá for a place that is far away from both the speaker and the listener. You can also use the phrase naquele lugar in more formal contexts to express the idea of being 'in that place'.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on distance: aí refers to a place near you (the listener), ali refers to a place that is somewhat close and visible to both of you and lá refers to a place far away from both of you. In informal settings, you can add emphasis to there by using the term ali mesmo.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal, ali is commonly used across all contexts, both formal and informal. In some regions of Brazil, you may hear lá more frequently, even in informal conversations.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word lá is often used as a particle to add emphasis to a distant location or to indicate a general direction away from the current context.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of lá is /ˈla/.
Did you know?
- The word aí has a double origin, coming both from the Latin phrase for 'at there' and from the indigenous language Old Tupi.
- In some expressions, lá is not used to describe a location but as a filler particle to add emotional emphasis or a sense of longing.
Examples in context
- Eu a vi lá.I saw her there.This sentence shows how to use lá to indicate a person's location.Tatoeba #8655375 by Brasiliense, translation #2297268 by Hybrid
- Vi o Tom lá.I saw Tom there.This sentence demonstrates the use of lá when seeing someone.Tatoeba #4970941 by carlosalberto, translation #2361686 by CK
- O que faz aí?What do you do there?This sentence shows how to use aí to ask about a location near the listener.Tatoeba #5940641 by Gamero, translation #5940649 by Gamero
- Vá até láGo there.
- Ela mora láShe lives there.
- Ele deve estar láHe should be there.
- O evento ocorrerá naquele lugarThe event will take place there.
- O restaurante fica naquele lugarThe restaurant is located there.
- Não queremos estar naquele lugarWe don't want to be there.
- Vou encontrá-lo aliI will meet him there.
- Deixe isso aliLeave that there.
- Ele está ali todo o tempoHe is there all the time.
- Deixe as coisas naquela mesaLeave the things on that table.
- Não quero ir naquela cidadeI don't want to go there (to that city).
- Ele me pediu para esperar exatamente láHe asked me to wait right there.
- 2084 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Beatriz and Gabriel are looking for a lost item in a park.
- BeatrizVocê viu o meu livro lá?Did you see my book there?
- GabrielNão vi, Beatriz.I didn't see it, Beatriz.
- BeatrizAcho que deixei lá no banco.I think I left it there on the bench.
- GabrielEu vou lá procurar para você.I will go there to look for it for you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “there” translations and entries lá, aí, ali, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ali, aí, lá, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
