Qui, qua, lì and là

[iacino]

These are referred to as "adverbs of place" in my textbook. Whis is proper: "La biblioteca è là" or "La biblioteca è lì"? Or doesn't it matter? Are qui and lì masculine and qua and là feminine? Adverbs usually don't take on the gender and number of the noun.

Grazie tanto.

 

[carlafed]

These are referred to as "adverbs of place" in my textbook. Whis is proper: "La biblioteca è là" or "La biblioteca è lì"? Or doesn't it matter? Are qui and lì masculine and qua and là feminine? Adverbs usually don't take on the gender and number of the noun.

Grazie tanto.

Right, adverbs do not have gender and number. So it is not a question of gender.
Lì and là both mean there, but lì is slightly closer than là, while qui and qua are pretty much the same.
This is regular speech. But the language experts may want to add some comment

 

[Silvia]

Carla explained very well.

How do you use them?

Let's be a little graphic then.

You are in the street and ask for some directions. You are looking for a newsagent's. You ask a guy and he says to go straight on, the newsagent's over there. But you are so lazy and don't want to waste your time, so you want to know which side of the street. However, you forgot how to say right and left in Italian
You are on the left side of the street and just ask: è di lì (pointing to the left) o di là (pointing to the right)? Or è di qui o di qua?

Is that any clearer now?!

 

[paolorausch]

I always heard "ccà" while growing up. Paolo veni ccà!

But when I went to Italy i was exposed to all of this Qua-ing and Qui-ing!

What exactly is the difference between Qua and Qui?, When I asked a Policeman in Svizzera (in il regione che parla italiano), he said there was none.

Thank you for any input!

 

[Rob625]

Qua and qui both mean here.
La and li both mean there.

Ora aspettiamo ulteriore precisioni dalla parte degli italiani madrilingua.

 

[DDT]

Qua and qui both mean here.
La and li both mean there.

Ora aspettiamo ulteriore precisioni dalla parte degli italiani madrilingua.

You're definitely right, Rob!
It's just a matter of taste, there is no difference between "qui" and "qua" nor between "lì" and "là"
Just let me correct you:
Ora aspettiamo ulteriore precisioni dalla parte degli italiani madrilingua
Ora aspettiamo ulteriori precisioni dalla parte degli italiani madrelingua

DDT

 

[paolorausch]

many thanks again silviap! I searched "qua qui difference" to know avail, but that link helps.

 

[Silvia]

many thanks again silviap! I searched "qua qui difference" to know avail, but that link helps.

Yeah, I hear you. I know what the problem is. 2/3 letter words cannot be searched. I hope the Administrator will fix that somehow.

 

[Steven Ross]

Di qui e di la'........

When do we use "qui" or "qua"? When do we use "li" or "la'"?

Thanks,

Steve

 

[Andre Balian]

Di qui e di la'........

When do we use "qui" or "qua"? When do we use "li" or "la'"?

Thanks,
Steve

I've been told that they are 100% interchangeable. But note that both li' and la' have accents.

 

[Drusillo]

Qui and qua are used to indicate a place near to the person that is speaking, lì and là to indicate a place far from the person that is speaking.

From "Corriere della sera" http://www.corriere.it/Rubriche/Scioglilingua/scioglilingua011102.shtml

La differenza è sottilissima per "lì" e "là" che significano entrambi "in quel luogo", preceduti in genere da un verbo di stato o di moto, con riferimento a un luogo decisamente lontano ("là") o non molto lontano ("lì), da chi parla e da chi ascolta. "Qui" e "Qua" sostanzialmente si equivalgono, con una sfumatura. Qua" e "qui" stanno per "in questo luogo", dopo un verbo di stato e di moto indicano un luogo vicino a chi parla, "qua" rispetto a "qui" ha un valore leggermente più indeterminato.

 

[Steven Ross]

I've been told that they are 100% interchangeable. But note that both li' and la' have accents.

Is it possible that even though qui and qua, li' and la' are interchangeable, qua and la' are more frequently used in cities like Rome and Florence whereas qui and li' are used in other areas of the country?

 

[uinni]

Is it possible that even though qui and qua, li' and la' are interchangeable, qua and la' are more frequently used in cities like Rome and Florence whereas qui and li' are used in other areas of the country? In France, many people use oui (yes) but in Paris they say oue (pronounced "way").

As far as qui/qua are concerned, I think it is possible. But lì e là are quite different, so I guess there is no regional dependence...

Uinni

 

[Gemelle]

Are "qua" and "la" dialect forms of "qui" e "li' ".

E' vero oppure no?

Gemelle.

 

[TimeHP]

Non direi.
Sono usati indistintamente. E anche là vuole l'accento.
Ciao

 

[Willi]

Qui is a bit nearer than qua as lì is a bit nearer than là

 

[Gemelle]

Va bene - ho capito.

Grazie,
Gemelle.

 

[toscairn]

Qui is a bit nearer than qua as lì is a bit nearer than là

Beh, non lo sapevo. Interessante! Grazzie a te.

 

[Elisa68]

Ciao Dylan,
c'è un thread identico qui.

 

[diddue]

Ciao Dylang,
Non so com emettere il link, ma se fai una ricerca scrivendo "qua e qui" trovi il thread che ti interessa

Cristina

Brava Elisa, io sono arrivata tardi, ma è meglio così

 

[dylanG3893]

Ah! Adesso ho capito che è intercambiabile! Grazie.
Anche, è 'Ciao per ora!' corretto?
Grazie

 

[Elisa68]

Ah! Adesso ho capito che è intercambiabile! Grazie.
Inoltre, è corretto 'Ciao per ora!'?
Grazie

Sì, Dylan, è corretto.

 

[DiFossa]

Ciao a tutti!

Allora... mi chiedo se ci sia una differenza fra qui e qua? Che ne dite voi? Grazie mille!

 

[soulpaolo]

Nessuna differenza, è un raro caso di sinonimia perfetta

 

[DiFossa]

Nessuna differenza, è un raro caso di sinonimia perfetta

Lo stesso riguardo li e la?

 

[jimi_james]

Hello,
I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to when to use these words? I understand that li and la mean 'there' and qui and qua mean 'here', however I am unsure as to whether or not these words are interchangeable..?

E.g. Is there ever a time when 'qui' is more suitable than 'qua' (question also applies to 'li' and 'la')?

This may seem trival to some, but it is bugging me and I had to ask!

Thanks
James

 

[Alxmrphi]

Ok..

When you are at a certain point and you look down, to say "here" you would say "qui".. now, say if you asked someone "Where is the market?" then if they pointed to a map and wanted to say "here", it's common to use "qua"..

One for, being right there and being able to see it, I have always thought as "li/qui"..
And for pointing on maps or, basically, where you can't point you finger to something and say "here/there", then it's "là/qua"..

Native confimation?

 

[jimi_james]

Thanks, but I'm still not too sure because I am currently in Bologna and I have heard people say, for example, 'sono qui' and 'sono qua'...

Can anyone else takle this problem- maybe I am just not hearing things correctly...

Jimi

 

[Alxmrphi]

Sono qui - I am here...
Sono qua - They are here

Remember that it can also refer to "they" aswel as "I", if that clears anything else up I hope so, it could be down to preference, let's wait for natives, cos I'd like to know a final answer to this question aswel.

 

[Paulfromitaly]

Sono qui - I am here...
Sono qua - They are here

Remember that it can also refer to "they" aswel as "I", if that clears anything else up I hope so, it could be down to preference, let's wait for natives, cos I'd like to know a final answer to this question aswel.

"sono qui" and "sono qua" have the same meaning that is either "I am here" or " they are here".

 

[jimi_james]

So maybe it is just preference? This seems so 'un-Italian'... there are always specific rules...

 

[Alxmrphi]

So maybe it is just preference? This seems so 'un-Italian'... there are always specific rules...

Maybe with the Italian they speak on Mars, but the Italian here on Earth, not so specific rules, lol.

 

[Paulfromitaly]

Maybe with the Italian they speak on Mars, but the Italian here on Earth, not so specific rules, lol.

There are a lot of specific rules in grammar, but "qui" or "qua" is just up to your personal choice, like saying "hello" or "hi".

 

[jimi_james]

Thanks everyone- I guess they are the same!
Jimi

 

[moodywop]

In the Italian Only Forum a few natives said that to them "là" indicates something farther away than "lì":

Personalmente ritengo che la differenza tra lì e là, nell'uso quotidiano, sia più marcata rispetto a qui e qua. Giusto per rendere grossolanamente l'idea, rappresentando con una distanza fittizia (reale o percepita) da una "persona":

"Persona" -> qui --> qua ---------------------> lì --------------> là

But I think most Italians don't make or perceive this difference.

I have no qualms about saying Qua!...Qua!...even though that makes me sound like a duck

 

[jimi_james]

Thanks duck
(please note my pun: duck as in quack- or qua!- and duck as in northern English term of endearment)...

 

[Alxmrphi]

Carlo, so I was sort of right, of "la" being FURTHER away than "li".. at least I got something right.. I have really learnt a lot today, I feel good about myself

 

[jimi_james]

I don't know who Carlo is, but it looks as though you were right indeed- well done!

I can't believe the reply was so prompt. I only signed up 2 or so hrs ago... I'll definately be back...

 

[gurghet]

You're definitely right, Rob!
It's just a matter of taste, there is no difference between "qui" and "qua" nor between "lì" and "là"
Just let me correct you:
Ora aspettiamo ulteriore precisioni dalla parte degli italiani madrilingua
Ora aspettiamo ulteriori precisioni dalla parte degli italiani madrelingua

DDT

Ora aspettiamo ulteriori precisazioni da parte degli italiani madrelingua

however, there is no diference at all...

 

[filmdubsters]

There is a light difference.

"Qui" and "Lì" are referred to a more determined (and generally closer) place: "Vieni qui, vicino a me" or "Mettilo lì"

"Qua" and "Là" are referred to a less determined (or generally more distant) place: "Andare di qua e di là" or "E' là che arriva"

 

[TinadV]

I always heard "ccà" while growing up. Paolo veni ccà!

But when I went to Italy i was exposed to all of this Qua-ing and Qui-ing!

What exactly is the difference between Qua and Qui?, When I asked a Policeman in Svizzera (in il regione che parla italiano), he said there was none.

Thank you for any input!

Paolo, "ca'" is Sicilian dialect for qui/qua, not Italian, and therein lies the confusion for you.

 

[LaCosmopolitana]

A tutti!

Non capisco che ci sono che dicono che "qua e qui" sono intercambiabili ed altri dicono che "qua è più lontano di qui"?

Tutti i due sono probabilmente buoni!

Grazie di spiegarmi la differenza se ne sia!

P.S. (È il mio messagio scritto in buon'italiano?)

Grazie di nuovo!
La Cosmopolitana

 

[Necsus]

A tutti!
Non capisco: c'è chi dice che "qua" e "qui" sono intercambiabili e chi dice che "qua" è più lontano di "qui"...
Probabilmente vanno bene tutti e due!
Vi ringrazio se potete spiegarmi la differenza, sempre che ve ne sia una!
P.S. (il mio messaggio è scritto in buon' italiano?)

Grazie di nuovo!
La Cosmopolitana

Sono sicuramente intercambiabili, solo che 'qui' è più determinato, più preciso di 'qua', si può usare per indicare un punto, un luogo più ristretto, mentre a 'qua' si ricorre di preferenza per indicazioni più generiche.

 

[RICCARDOS]

Ciao a tutti.

Oh my, nothing is simple.

From a previous post:
Allora...vediamo un po'...il filo giallo va attaccato qua e il filo rosso di qua.
Translated as:
So...let's take a look...the yellow thread is to be attached here and (instead) the red thread over there.

Non capisco. Why would it not be qui ... qua or qui ... la?

I've researched WR and have not found a reasonable explanation (or, at least, one that I can understand).

Aiuto, per favore.

Grazie in anticipo,

 

[fitter.happier]

Hi!

It's not as bad as you think. Qui and qua are interchangeable, that's all Check out this old thread.

Also, "vediamo un po'" is quite random and less specific than "let's take a look". I'd translate it as "let's see", which I think is more generic and applies to most situations.

 

[RICCARDOS]

Hi!

It's not as bad as you think. Qui and qua are interchangeable, that's all Check out this old thread.

Also, "vediamo un po'" is quite random and less specific than "let's take a look". I'd translate it as "let's see", which I think is more generic and applies to most situations.

Ciao Fitter.

Thanks for the response.

I looked at the thread you suggest some time ago and from that had understood there is a subtle difference between qui/qua and li/la that had mainly to do with distance (i.e., qui/li refer to things relatively near whereas qua/la refer to things farther away).

Based on that understanding I would think that the example from the previous post (which, unfortunately, I lost but it had nothing to do with the use of qui/qua) that was written and translated by the poster should be qui/qui because the sewing task was "in hand"/very near.

But, you say that it really doesn't make any difference - use either qui OR qua regardless of near or far (and the same for li/la)?

If I understand what you are saying correctly then it certainly does make things simpler!

Just want to make sure I understand what you are saying.

Grazie,

Riccardo

 

[veronica55]

Thread split from here: Here's my passport

So what is the exact difference between qui and qua. How do we use them?
Potete dare un po' degli esempi per favore? (and is this sentence right?)

 

[london calling]

so what is the exact difference between qui and qua. How do we use them?
Potete darmi qualche esempio, per favore?

Qui and qua are synonyms: both mean here.

Vivo qui/qua da tanti anni.
Ecco (qui/qua) il passaporto.
E' venuto qui/qua da me ieri.

 

[veronica55]

Qui and qua are synonyms: both mean here.

Vivo qui/qua da tanti anni.
Ecco (qui/qua) il passaporto.
E' venuto qui/qua da me ieri.

Grazié mille

 

[franz rod]

Qui and qua are synonyms: both mean here.

Non sono proprio dei sinonimi. Qui ha un senso di maggior determinatezza e prossimità nei confronti di chi parla o scrive.