Do you know the correct meaning and use of lì, là and qui and qua in Italian?

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What is the difference between lì and là or qui or qua?

Ok so what you really must they indicate a location and they are used to talk about something or somebody in a location.

lì and là

PLEASE remember to place an accent on le “I” and the “A” otherwise you are misusing them! Lì and là mean there.

They will be used to refer to something or somebody that is far from the person that is speaking. The only small difference is that “lì” is more accurate than “là“. So if you want to be more specific of the location far away you will use lì and if you are not specific you will use là (honestly... don’t go crazy over this... just remember to focus on the meaning and the use).

Let’s look at some practical examples:

• Lì c’era una casa gialla una volta 
  • In this case I’m probably indicating, pointing my finger in a specific location saying that in that specific spot there used to be a yellow house.
• Là non c’era niente di interessante 
  • in this case I’m generically saying that in that place there wasn’t anything interesting… i’m not specific. 

Here are some useful expressions that you can create with lì and là

• mettilo là/lì – put it there
• là/lì dentro, là/lì fuori, là/lì sotto là/lì sopra – in there, out there, under there, there on top
• essere di là – to be somewhere over there
• più in là – further down (in space), later on (in time)

Here are some sentences with these expression:

• Dove metto la borsa? Mettila lì sul tavolino rotondo (Where can I put the bag? - Put it over there on the round table)
• Dov’è Giacomo? Là fuori in giardino. (Where is Giacomo? He is out there in the garden)
• Sai dove posso trovare un coltello? Dovrebbe essere di lì in cucina nel cassetto. (Do you know where I can find a knife? It should be over there in the first drawer of the kitchen)
• Fatti più in là così mi siedo anch’io! (move over there so I can also sit)

Qui and qua. 

A similar rule that I just told you for lì and là will be applied to qui and qua, but we are now talking about some close to the person speaking. 

Qui refers to something more accurate and specific and qua to something more generic and less specific. 

Examples:

• Qui si mangia bene – I’m pointing to a restaurant close by and I’m saying “in here you will eat good food)
• Qua si mangia bene – I’m indicating a general area in where you can find good food… so maybe a street or a part of a city. 

Now let’s look at some common expressions with “qui” and “qua”

• vieni qui/qua – come here
• mettilo qui/qua – put it here
• qua/qui dentro – in here
• qua/qui sotto – under here
• qua / qui sopra - here on top

Here are some sentences:

• Vieni qui vicino che non riesco a vederti! (Come close over here, I can’t see you!)
• Parcheggia la macchina qua da qualche parte. (Park the car somewhere over here)
• Qui dentro fa troppo caldo! (In here it’s too hot!)
• Qui sotto casa mia c’è un ristorante indiano buonissimo! (Near my house over here there is a good Indiano restaurant)
• Qua sopra ai piani alti vice un attore famoso (A famous actor lives here on top on the upper floors)