Portuguese · Greetings & Essentials
"There" in Portuguese: lá / ali
lá / ali
There in Portuguese is lá or ali. Ali is nearby but not here; lá can feel farther. Keep ali (and lá) as their own words.
Café
Tem uma mesa livre ali perto da janela.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce lá / ali
Say it
lah / ah-LEE
/ˈla/, /a.ˈli/
lah / ah-LEE
"There" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| lá | there (farther) Distance. | Distance. |
| ali | there (nearby) Pointing close. | Pointing close. |
| fica lá | it’s over there Directions. | Directions. |
| ali na esquina | there on the corner City talk. | City talk. |
How to use lá / ali in real life
- 1Café
Tem uma mesa livre ali perto da janela.
There’s a free table there near the window.
Ali nearby.
- 2Directions
O banco fica ali no fim da rua.
The bank is there at the end of the street.
Pointing.
- 3Meeting
Te encontro ali depois do almoço.
I’ll meet you there after lunch.
Plans.
Mistakes English speakers make with lá / ali
Incorrect: O hotel fica there.
Correct: O hotel fica ali. / O hotel fica lá.
Use ali or lá, not English there.
Incorrect: Põe a mala allá.
Correct: Põe a mala ali.
Portuguese uses ali/lá, not Spanish allá.
Good to know
Brazilians switch lá and ali by feel: ali is within sight, lá can be across town. Vou lá is I’ll go (over there). Pair with aqui for here.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Finding a parking spot
ChatPal
Tem vaga ali atrás do mercado?
Is there a spot there behind the market?
You
Tem. Estaciona ali do lado do muro.
Yes. Park there by the wall.
ChatPal
E a entrada fica lá na outra rua?
And is the entrance over there on the other street?
You
Isso. A gente corta o quarteirão.
Yes. We’ll cut through the block.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"There" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "There" in Portuguese
There?
Lá or ali.
Lá vs ali?
Lá farther; ali nearby but not here.
Over there?
Lá / ali.
Here?
Aqui.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
