Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say "Over There" in Spanish: Allí vs. Allá
Allí · adverb · ah-YEE
Over there in Spanish is allí (a specific distant point) or allá (a vague or very far direction). Spanish distinguishes three distances: aquí/acá (here, near me), ahí (there, near you), allí/allá (over there, far from both of us).
ah-YEE (allí), ah-YAH (allá). Both have stress on the final syllable.
El restaurante está allí, al final de la calle.
The restaurant is over there, at the end of the street.
Over There in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for over there, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| allí | over there | ah-YEE | Default, widely understood |
| allá | over there | Universal (further away, vaguer direction) | |
| ahí | over there | Universal (there, medium distance) |
How Native Speakers Use Allí
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Pointing to a specific place
Deja las cajas allí, junto a la puerta.
Leave the boxes over there, next to the door.
Allí points to a specific location that both speakers can identify.
Vague distant direction
Mi pueblo natal está allá en el norte, cerca de la frontera.
My hometown is over there in the north, near the border.
Allá is used for farther, less precise locations — more of a general direction.
Contrasting distances
El banco está aquí, la farmacia está ahí, y el hospital está allá.
The bank is here, the pharmacy is there, and the hospital is over there.
Shows the three-tier Spanish distance system in one sentence.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Allí
Confusing ahí with allí
Incorrect: Las llaves están allí (pointing to the table right next to the listener).
Correct: Las llaves están ahí (pointing to near the listener).
Ahí means there (near the listener, middle distance). Allí means over there (far from both). Using allí for something close to the listener sounds unnatural.
Using allí for vague directions
Incorrect: Mis abuelos viven allí en Colombia. (vague, not pointing)
Correct: Mis abuelos viven allá en Colombia.
For distant, non-specific locations (like countries far away), allá is more natural. Allí implies you could point to the exact spot.
Lock in Over There Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Allí used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using allí in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El restaurante está allí, al final de la calle. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
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Common Questions About Over There in Spanish
- How do you say over there in Spanish?
- Over there is allí (specific distant point) or allá (vague far direction). Think of it as: aquí = here (near me), ahí = there (near you), allí/allá = over there (far from both).
- What's the difference between allí and allá?
- Allí points to a defined spot in the distance (put it over there on that shelf). Allá is vaguer and often farther (somewhere over there in the mountains). Allá also works with motion verbs: vamos allá (let's go over there).
- What about acá vs. aquí?
- Aquí and acá both mean here, with similar nuances. Aquí is a specific spot near the speaker; acá is vaguer or used with motion (ven acá = come here). Latin America tends to prefer acá; Spain uses aquí more.