Learning Italian can be tricky at times, especially when it comes to those tiny words that seem to overlap in meaning. Take Qui vs Qua, Lì vs Là: four terms that all relate to location, yet each carries its own nuances. But don’t worry – figuring out how to use them correctly is easier than you might think. Iniziamo! (Let’s start!)
But first, make sure to download your free PDF cheat-sheet, which includes all the key points we’ll cover in this guide. Just enter your email below and I’ll send it to you straight away.
By the way, want to improve your Italian quickly and having fun doing it? I thought so! If you’re a beginner, I recommend Intrepid Italian, my comprehensive self-paced programme that teaches you through the power of my unique 80/20 method. The course covers everything you need to know as a beginner in Italian. Join now for lifetime access and my 30-Day “Celebrate with a Spritz” money-back guarantee by clicking here.
Or if you’re already at the intermediate level, why not enrol in Intrepid Italian for Advanced Beginners (A2) or Intrepid Italian for Intermediates (B1), my more advanced programmes that helps you master the trickiest aspects of Italian grammar while as you edge closer to fluency in Italian.
Table to Contents
Here’s what we’ll cover in this guide. Click on any title to jump to each section.
- What are Qui, Qua, Lì and Là in Italian?
- How to use Qui and Qua
- How to use Lì vs Là
- How to use Lì, Là, Qui, Qua with Questo/Quello
- 4 Expressions with Qui, Qua, Lì and Là
What are Qui, Qua, Lì and Là in Italian?
In Italian, Qui, Qua, Lì, and Là are adverbs of place, which means they help us describe where something happens or where someone or something is situated. While English typically relies on just “here” and “there” to convey location, Italian is a bit more nuanced.
Understanding how to use these four location words and their variations comes down to one key concept: the distance between the speaker and the location being discussed:
| NEAR | FAR | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Here | Qui | There | Lì |
| Qua | Là | ||
In the following sections, I’ll explain this concept in more detail, so you can express yourself more clearly in Italian.
How to use Qui and Qua
In Italian, both Qui and Qua mean “here” and are used to refer to something or someone close to the speaker. However, they are used slightly differently:
- Qui indicates a specific location. Think of it as if you’re almost physically pointing your finger at a precise spot.
- Qua refers to a broader, less precise area around the speaker.
Here’s an example to clarify this distinction:
- Qui non c’era niente quindici anni fa (Nothing was here fifteen years ago) – In this sentence, Qui points to a specific location.
- Qua non c’era niente quindici anni fa (Nothing was here fifteen years ago) – Here, Qua refers to a wider, generic area.
The good news is that Italians often use Qui and Qua almost interchangeably, relying more on intuition and common usage than strict rules. So, while it’s helpful to understand the subtle difference, you won’t go wrong if you follow your ear and intuition!
Although they are pronounced with a stressed vowel at the end, Qui and Qua do not require an accent mark. Italian students often learn with a rhyme: Su qui e qua l’accento non va! (literally, “On ‘qui’ and ‘qua’ the accent doesn’t go!”).
And here’s a fun fact: In Italy, Donald Duck’s nephews are named Qui, Quo, and Qua. This playful naming mimics the sound of a duck’s quack, which is qua qua in Italian!
Getting more specific
When you want to be more precise, you can combine Qui and Qua with various prepositions or adverbs. Here are some common combinations:
Quassù or Qui/Qua sopra (Up here)
Example: Hai provato a dare un’occhiata quassù? (Have you tried looking up here?)
Quaggiù or Qui/Qua sotto (Down here)
Example: Non si vede nulla da quaggiù, dobbiamo salire più in alto (We can’t see anything from down here, we need to climb higher)
Qui/Qua vicino (Near here)
Example: C’è un bancomat proprio qui vicino (There’s an ATM right near here)
Qui/Qua dentro (In here)
Example: Le chiavi sono qui dentro (The keys are in here)
Qui/Qua fuori (Out here)
Example: Vado a comprare i biglietti, tu aspettami qui fuori (I’m going to buy the tickets, you wait for me out here)
Di qui/qua (By here)
Example: Per andare al supermercato, dobbiamo passare di qua (To go to the supermarket, we need to pass by here)
Da qui/qua (From here)
Example: Non è molto lontano da qua (It’s not far from here)
Common expressions with Qui and Qua
Here are some handy Italian expressions featuring Qui and Qua to add to your vocabulary:
Eccomi qui! (Here I am!)
To let someone know you’ve arrived or you’re ready.
Example: Eccomi qui, da dove comincio? (Here I am, where do I start?)
Eccoci qua! (Here we are! We’ve made it!)
When you and others have reached a destination or completed something together.
Example: E dopo ore di cammino, eccoci qua! (And after hours of walking, we’ve made it!)
Qui/Qua casca l’asino
(lit.”Here the donkey falls”, meaning “here’s the catch”, “here’s where the problem lies”)
To point out a tricky or problematic aspect of a situation.
Example: Il progetto è fantastico, ma qui casca l’asino: chi paga? (The project is fantastic, but here’s the catch: who is going to pay?)
Qui lo dico e qui lo nego (I’m saying it, but won’t take responsibility for it)
When you mention something but do not want to be held accountable.
Example: Qui lo dico e qui lo nego: stanno per partire dei licenziamenti (I’m saying it, but I won’t take responsibility for it: layoffs are about to happen)
Qui/Qua ti voglio (I can’t wait to see this)
To emphasize a particular moment where you intend to make a point
Example: Procediamo, ma poi – e qui ti voglio – dovremo spiegare al cliente l’aumento dei costi (Let’s proceed, but then – and I can’t wait to see this – we will need to explain the increase in costs to the client)
Di qui a una settimana/un mese/un anno (Within a week/a month/a year)
To specify the time frame within which something is expected to happen.
Example: Di qui a un mese, avremo una risposta (Within a month, we will have an answer)
Da quando in qua? (Since when)
To express surprise or indignation about something that has happened or changed
Example: Da quando in qua rispondi così a tua madre? (Since when do you respond like this to your mother?)
Qui e ora (Here and now)
To stress the importance of focusing on the present moment.
Example: Dobbiamo pensare al qui e ora, anziché essere intrappolati nel passato (We must focus on the here and now, rather than being trapped in the past)
How to use Lì vs Là
In Italian, Lì and Là refer to a place that is far from both the speaker and the listener, much like the English word “there.” However, there’s a subtle difference between them:
- Lì is used when you want to point to a specific, well-defined location.
- Là is used for broader or less precisely defined areas.
Let’s clarify with an example:
- Lì c’era la mia vecchia scuola (My old school was there) – Here, the speaker might be indicating the exact spot where the old school once stood.
- Là c’era la mia vecchia scuola (My old school was there) – In this case, the speaker is likely referring to a more generic area, like a neighborhood, rather than a specific point.
That said, much like Qui and Qua, Italians often use Lì and Là (there) interchangeably.
Attenzione: Always remember to include the accent on ì in Lì and à in Là when writing these adverbs. This is crucial to avoid confusing them with the Italian pronouns li (masculine plural) and la (feminine singular, also a definite article), which do not carry accents.
Getting more specific
You can enhance your descriptions by combining Lì and Là with other prepositions or adverbs, similar to how Qui and Qua are used. For example:
Lassù or Lì/Là sopra (Up there)
Example: C’è un’altra camera lassù (There’s another bedroom up there)
Laggiù or Lì/Là sotto (Down there)
Example: Quel paese laggiù è dove abita mia nonna (That village down there is where my grandmother lives)
Di là (In the other room)
Example: Anna è di là, te la chiamo? (Anna is in the other room, should I call her for you?)
Lì/Là dentro (In there)
Example: Le pillole sono lì dentro (The pills are in there)
Lì/Là dietro (Behind there)
Example: La borsa è là dietro (The bag is behind there)
Lì/Là fuori (Out there)
Example: È lì fuori ad aspettarti (He is out there waiting for you)
Common expressions with Lì and Là
Many Italian expressions using Lì and Là are commonly featured in everyday conversations. For example:
Farsi più in là (To make room, or literally, “to move further over”)
Example: Potete farvi più in là, così aggiungiamo una sedia? (Can you please move over, so we can add a chair?)
Al di là (Beyond, on the other side)
Example: Hai visto quel leprotto al di là del fosso? (Did you see that little hare on the other side of the ditch?). Don’t confuse al di là with aldilà, which is a single word meaning “the afterlife”!
Lì per lì (At that moment, right then)
Example: Tuo padre mi ha offerto un lavoro, ma lì per lì non ho saputo cosa rispondere! (Your father offered me a job, but at that moment, I didn’t know what to say!)
Lì lì per (On the verge of)
Example: Non ho mai visto Maria così arrabbiata, era lì lì per mollarle un ceffone (I’ve never seen Maria so angry, she was on the verge of slapping her)
Giù di lì (Approximately, more or less)
Example: Quella borsa le sarà costato 500 euro o giù di lì (That bag must have cost her 500 euros more or less)
Più di là che di qua (More dead than alive)
Used figuratively to describe someone who is in very poor condition)
Example: Dopo quella caduta, era più di là che di qua! (After that fall, he was more dead than alive!)
Essere in là con gli anni (To be an older person, or literally, “advanced in years”)
Example: Mio nonno è in là con gli anni (My grandfather is getting old.)
Siamo lì (Roughly, about that)
Example: Belli questi occhiali, ma quanto ti sono costati? 1000 euro? Eh, siamo lì! (These glasses are nice, but how much did they cost you? 1000 euros? Yeah, about that!)
Ma va là (Come on! I don’t believe it! – informal)
Example: Ma va là, non ci credo che parti da sola! (Come on, I don’t believe that you’re leaving alone!)
Va là (Come on,)
An informal way to downplay someone’s actions.
Example: Va là che ti conosco bene, non riesci a fare quel lavoro (Come on, I know you well, you can’t do that job)
Chi è là? / Chi va là? (Who’s there?)
Used in military contexts to ask who is approaching, but also playfully in everyday life. Fun fact: Chi è là is a beautiful line of the first act of Puccini’s La Bohème!
Alto là / Altolà (Halt)
A military command used to stop someone right away, also used playfully
Example: Altolà, ho appena lavato il pavimento! (Halt, I’ve just washed the floor!)
Sul chi va là (To be on guard, or literally, “on the lookout”)
Example: Marco sta sempre sul chi va là per paura (Marco is always on guard for fear)
Là, là, là
Repeated to interrupt a conversation or action that’s annoying or embarrassing, often accompanied by a gesture like covering the ears. This is often used by children to show they are fed up!
Example: Là, là, là, non ti sento! (La, la, la, I can’t hear you!)
How to use Lì, Là, Qui, Qua with Questo/Quello
In Italian, Lì, Là, Qui, and Qua are often used in combination with demonstrative adjectives and pronouns like questo (this) and quello (that) to specify or emphasize locations. Here’s a simple guide on how to use these combinations:
Questo (this) + qui/qua (here)
To talk about things or people that are close to the speaker. Examples:
- Ecco mio padre Luigi e questa qui è mia mamma, Angela (Here’s my father Luigi, and this here is my mother, Angela)
- Non mi piace quel melone, vorrei questo qui (I don’t like that melon, I would like this one)
Quello (that) + lì/là (there)
To talk about things or people that are farther away from the speaker. Examples:
- La fermata più vicina è di fronte al panettiere. Quella lì, la vede? (The nearest stop is in front of the bakery. That one over there, do you see it?)
- Vorrei quella maglietta là, per favore (I’d like that t-shirt over there, please)
Attenzione: Be cautious when referring to people with questo or quello combined with lì, là, qui, or qua, as it can sometimes come off as impolite or dismissive. For instance, if you’re at a bar and see someone approaching your boyfriend while you’re getting drinks, you might say: Cosa voleva da te quella là? (What did that girl over there want from you?).
4 Expressions with Qui, Qua, Lì and Là
Sometimes Qui (here), Qua (here), Lì (there) and Là (there) are combined to convey different nuances. Here are some common expressions that mix these adverbs:
Qua e là (Here and there)
To talk about something scattered in various places, highlighting a sense of disorder.
Example: Mio figlio lascia sempre i suoi vestiti qua e là per la casa (My son always leaves his clothes here and there around the house)
Di qua… di là (This… that)
To emphasize the repeated occurrence of something, often with a sense of annoyance or frustration.
Example: Enzo è così vanitoso, non fa che dire io di qua, io di là (Enzo is so vain, he keeps talking about himself, saying ‘I this, I that’)
Da qui a lì (From here to there)
To talk about the distance from one point to another.
Example: C’è così tanta nebbia che non si vede da qui a lì (There’s so much fog that you can’t see from here to there)
Ora qui, ora lì (Now here, now there)
Example: Stefania è sempre in viaggio, ora qui, ora lì… (Stefania is always traveling, now here, now there…)
If you found this lesson powerful, then you’ll love Intrepid Italian, my series of online self-paced video courses that break down everything you need to know about Italian using my 80/20 method. Visit IntrepidItalian.com for more details.
Are you a beginner or an intermediate Italian learner? Got a trip coming up or want to communicate with your Italian partner or relatives in Italian? Learn Italian with my unique 80/20 method
Registrations are now open to join Intrepid Italian, my new series of online video courses that use my unique 80/20 method. You’ll go from a shy, confused beginner to a proficient and confident intermediate speaker, with me as your trusty guide.
You’ll finally be able to connect with your Italian partner, speak to your relatives and enjoy authentic travel experiences in Italy that you’ve always dreamed of, and so much more.
As a native English speaker who learned Italian as an adult, I know what it’s like to feel hopeless and lack the confidence to speak. I know what it’s like to start from scratch and to even go back to absolute basics and learn what a verb is!
Intrepid Italian was created with YOU in mind. I use my working knowledge of the English language to help you get into the ‘Italian mindset’ so you can avoid the common pitfalls and errors English speakers make – because I made them once too! I break everything down in such a way that it ‘clicks’ and just makes sense.
No matter what your level is, there is an Intrepid Italian course for you, including:
- 🇮🇹 Intrepid Italian for Beginners (A1)
- 🇮🇹 Intrepid Italian for Advanced Beginners (A2)
- 🇮🇹 Intrepid Italian for Intermediates (B1)
You can join 1, 2, or all 3 courses, it’s entirely up to you. The best part is that you have lifetime access so you learn anytime, anywhere and on any device.
As your guide, I walk you through each lesson, step-by-step, using my unique 80/20 method. My approach is different from traditional methods because I teach you the most important 20% of the language right from the beginning so you can start to speak straight away.
Each course includes video lessons, audio exercises, downloadable worksheets, bonus guides, a private support community, and lifetime access all designed to streamline your learning while having fun.
It even comes with my famous “Celebrate with a Spritz Guarantee”. After 30 days of using Intrepid Italian, if you don’t want to celebrate your new-found Italian skills with an Aperol Spritz, you don’t have to pay a penny! Cheers! 🥂
Join Intrepid Italian here and start learning today!
Ci vediamo lì! (See you there!)
Learning Italian? Check out these Italian language guides
- Italian for Beginners | How to Learn Italian in 3 Simple Steps
- TOP 100 Most Common Italian Words (Plus PDF Cheat-Sheet & Quiz)
- Italian Prepositions:The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need (PLUS Chart)
- 17 Weird Italian Superstitions Italians ACTUALLY Live By
- 17 Must-Know Italian Hand Gestures: The Ultimate Guide
- 10 Ways Natives REALLY Say ‘You’re Welcome’ in Italian
- How to say ‘Please’ in Italian in 9 Ways Like a Native
- 41 Italian Greetings: How to Say ‘Hello’ in Italian Like a Local
- 125 Most Common Italian Phrases for Travel You’ll Ever Need [PLUS Printable]
- 8 DEADLY mistakes in Italian (& How to Avoid Them)
- How to Conjugate Italian Verbs in 3 Simple Steps [Italian for Beginners]
- Is Italian Hard to Learn? 7 Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
- Master Days of the Week in Italian (7 Simple Memory Hacks)
- Italian Numbers: How to Count in Italian From 0 to 1 Billion (Plus PDF Download)
- How to Order Food & Drinks in Italian [Italian for Beginners]
- 15 Italian Words You Should NEVER Mispronounce [& How Not To]
- 11 Effective Hacks That’ll Help You Learn Italian So Much Faster
- Top 14 Italian Words You Should NEVER Say [& What to Use Instead]
- 20 Hilarious Everyday Italian Expressions You Should Use
- Romanesco: 25 Cool Roman Dialect Words You Should Use in Rome
- 10 Reasons Why Learning Italian Will Change Your Life
- 10 Italian Expressions Italians Love Saying
- 10 Italian Phrases That Will Instantly Make You Sound more Italian
- Funny Italian Sayings: 26 Food-Related Insults You Won’t Forget
- 15 Romantic Italian Films That’ll Make You Love Italy Even More
- How to Master Common Italian Phrases for Travel (Like a Local!)
Like it? Pin it for later!
Over to you!
Did you enjoy this lesson? Do you have a question? Let me know using the comments section below or join me on social media @intrepidguide or @intrepiditalian to start a conversation.
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post.
Like what you see? Subscribe using the form below to have all of my posts delivered directly to your email.
