aqui

Aqui is an adverb meaning “here” used in several Romance languages. In Spanish the form is aquí, with an acute accent on the í, which marks stress on the last syllable. In Portuguese the form is aqui without an accent, and Galician also uses aquí with the same accent as Spanish in many contexts. The accent in Spanish and Galician helps indicate pronunciation and stress.

Etymology and usage across languages. The word derives from the Latin hic, meaning “this place.” In modern Iberian Romance languages, aqui serves as a locative adverb describing a location near the speaker. It functions as a core directional term in everyday speech and writing.

Pronunciation. In Spanish, aquí is typically pronounced [ˈa.ki]. In Portuguese, aqui is commonly [aˈki] (varies by dialect), and in Galician it is often [ˈa.ki]. The differences mainly involve vowel quality and initial stress patterns across languages.

Examples. Spanish examples: “Estoy aquí.”, “Aquí está el libro.” Portuguese examples: “Estou aqui.”, “Aqui fica o hospital.” Galician examples: “Estou aquí.” These illustrate the word’s use to designate the speaker’s immediate location or a nearby place.

Variants and cognates. The corresponding concept exists in many languages with close forms (for example, qui in some contexts in Italian or French equivalents), but across Spanish, Portuguese, and Galician the standard meanings and spellings center on “here.” In writing and signage, aqui commonly appears as a straightforward spatial marker.

See also. Here in language references, and a cross-language look at equivalents for “here.”