ahí

Ahí is a Spanish adverb of place meaning there, used to indicate a location that is near the listener or near a place already referenced in conversation. It can also refer to a location previously mentioned, without naming it again. In many dialects, ahí sits on a scale between aquí (here) and allí (there, farther away), suggesting a position that is not distant but not precisely at the speaker’s spot.

Pronunciation and usage notes: ahí is pronounced with stress on the i, typically transcribed as /aˈi/. It does not change for gender or number. In everyday speech, ahí appears in commands and descriptions, such as “Pásame ahí el libro” or “Mira ahí, al lado de la lámpara.” It is often accompanied by adverbs or demonstratives like ahí mismo (right there) or ahí está (there it is).

Distinguishing from related terms: aquí means here, a reference to the speaker’s immediate location; allí denotes a more distant or less definite location. Ahí usually signals a spot near the listener or the place under discussion, but not at the speaker’s exact location. In many varieties of Spanish, the distinctions can be subtle or blurred in casual speech.

Common expressions: ahí tienes (there you go), ahí va (there it goes), ahí está (there it is), and ahí mismo (right there). These forms illustrate how ahí functions across discourse to direct attention or indicate fulfillment of a request.

Etymology and history: como deictic adverb, ahí is part of a family with aquí and allí. The exact historical development is not universally agreed, but it has been a standard element of Spanish since at least the Early Modern period. It remains widely used across Spanish-speaking regions.