allá
Lemma Details
Translation: there; over there; yonder; in that place
Part of Speech: adverb
Etymology: Derived from Latin 'illac' meaning 'that way' or 'by that route'. It evolved from Vulgar Latin through Old Spanish to its current form. The word maintains the Latin demonstrative root 'ill-' (that) which appears in other Spanish words like 'aquel' (that one) and 'aquello' (that thing).
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Mi abuela vive allá en las montañas.
My grandmother lives over there in the mountains.
Vamos allá mañana.
We're going there tomorrow.
Allá en el horizonte se puede ver el mar.
There on the horizon you can see the sea.
Más allá de las apariencias, es una buena persona.
Beyond appearances, he/she is a good person.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'allá' as 'all away' - it's the place that's all the way over there, far from you.
- The double 'l' in 'allá' can remind you of a long distance - it takes longer to say than 'acá'.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
In Spanish, there's a three-way distinction in spatial deixis: 'aquí/acá' (near the speaker), 'ahí' (at a medium distance or near the listener), and 'allí/allá' (far from both speaker and listener). 'Allá' often implies a greater distance than 'allí' and can have more emotional distance as well.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: Both mean 'there', but 'allá' typically implies a greater distance or a more general location, while 'allí' refers to a more specific point. 'Allá' can also have more emotional or conceptual distance.
Notes: In some regions, the distinction between 'allí' and 'allá' is less strict, and they may be used interchangeably.
Mnemonic: 'Allá' ends in 'a' like 'away' - it's further away; 'allí' ends in 'i' like 'in that spot' - it's more specific.
Explanation: 'Ahí' refers to a place that is at a medium distance (often near the listener), while 'allá' refers to a place that is far from both speaker and listener.
Notes: The three-way distinction (aquí/acá, ahí, allí/allá) doesn't exist in English, which makes these words challenging for English speakers.
Mnemonic: 'Ahí' is shorter than 'allá', just as the distance it represents is shorter.