aqui/aca vs. alli/alla

[mkohn]

Here's one that might be useful.
Who can explain the differences between aqui and aca, and alli and alla?
I know I missed the accents - I'm lucky to have a computer.
mkohn

[hugoke01]

I hope this helps somewhat :

Aqui : (place ) here
e.g. : Aqui mismo : right here
Hasta aqui : as far as here
El vive por aqui : he live round here

Acá : same as above .. here or over here
e.g. : Vente por acá : come over here

Acá has also a "time" meaning :
e.g. : De ayer acá : since yesterday (up to now )

it's also used in a somewhat different way :
e.g. Acá es mi señora : This is my wife

Alli :there

e.g. alli arriba : up there
por alli : over there

Allá : also there
Used as direction :
e.g. : mas allá de : outside or beyond
muy allá : far away
no tan allá : not so far
vamos allá : let's go there

time related :
Allá en 1492 : en el año 1492 (in 1492 )

A last meaning :
e.g. Allá tu : it's up to you -this is your concern

Hope this helps although I'm sure someone will explain this better

Originally Posted by mkohn

Here's one that might be useful.
Who can explain the differences between aqui and aca, and alli and alla?
I know I missed the accents - I'm lucky to have a computer.
mkohn

[mofi]

Usually when we say aqui it means like right here right in front of me and aca is here but a little further away. Same goes for alli alla, alli is there so is alla but alla tends to be a little furtheraway.

Also depending on the country one is usually used more often then the other.

[qgrande]

I've got a related question, could someone explain the difference between allí and ahí?

[Lesley D]

These are interesting grammar concepts and indeed there is a difference between aquí/acá vs allí/ allá. I am not interested in debating grammar rules that govern and explain the usage of concepts in Spanish that have been created centuries ago by philologists and grammarians etc. because they are not debatable. I say this in light of a recent thread that is now history.

Most grammar textbooks provide the general meaning of these words but do not go into details which is sometimes necessary for clarity of usage. I had a great professor who used to correct us even when we were speaking if we used these words incorrectly. As well there are great resources that do focus on specific concepts such as these in Spanish.

If you don't get the answers you are looking for I will send you a PM. However, Mofi's post is absolutely correct in terms of the basic differences between each pair of words.


LDG.

Originally Posted by mkohn

Here's one that might be useful.
Who can explain the differences between aqui and aca, and alli and alla?
I know I missed the accents - I'm lucky to have a computer.
mkohn

[mofi]

WOOHOO- I actually do know something! hahaha

[Flaco]

Originally Posted by mkohn

Here's one that might be useful.
Who can explain the differences between aqui and aca, and alli and alla?
I know I missed the accents - I'm lucky to have a computer.
mkohn

I don't know how they are used in the Dominican, but in Texas we use them as such.

aquí: If you call someone that is in another room and want him to come to the room that you are in we would say: "¡Ven aquí!

acá: If your child has done something bad and you want to scold them: ¡Ven acá!

allí: If you are pointing something/ someone out that you can see: La chica allí...

allá: If you are refering to something/ someone that is not visible: No te vayas pa'lla.

I could very well be wrong about everything... if so please correct me so that I can adjust my fire

[mofi]

Flaco thats what i pretty much said, except your version is the opposite of mine. aca is usually more friendly then aqui or at least where I learned.

They say ven aqui when they are mad and ven aca when they just want to talk to you and not get mad.

[mamichula24]

What are the different pronunciations (sp?) of the diffrent accents? When there's an accent on an "a" and "i".....do you just stress that certain letter. I'm going to be starting my spanish classes soon...but in the mean time I've been "self teaching"....so I figure the more I learn going in...the easier it will be to learn

[mkohn]

Hi mamichula,
While you are learning, you can be sure you are saying it correctly if you put the emphasis on the accented syllable.
The second to last syllable is often the one with the emphasis, so the accents help a lot when the pronunciation doesn't follow the rule.
Buena suerte. (second to last)
mkohn