Phrase in 30 Seconds
'Lá' is the essential Portuguese word for pointing to a place far from both you and the listener.
- Means: 'There' or 'Over there' (far away).
- Used in: Giving directions, identifying distant objects, or referring to other countries.
- Don't confuse: 'Lá' (far) with 'Aqui' (here) or 'Ali' (visible/mid-distance).
Explication à ton niveau :
Signification
In, at, or to that place or position.
Contexte culturel
Brazilians often use 'lá' to refer to the United States or Europe as a way of acknowledging the vast geographical distance. In Portugal, 'lá' is often used in the expression 'Lá vai um' when something is being sent or thrown. In Angolan Portuguese, 'lá' can be used to emphasize a long duration of time in the past.
The Pointing Rule
If you have to fully extend your arm to point at it, it's probably 'lá'.
Don't forget the accent!
Without the accent, you are saying 'the', which will confuse people.
The Pointing Rule
If you have to fully extend your arm to point at it, it's probably 'lá'.
Don't forget the accent!
Without the accent, you are saying 'the', which will confuse people.
Sei lá is your friend
If you don't understand a question, 'Sei lá' is a very natural (though informal) way to shrug it off.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.
Eu não moro aqui, eu moro ____.
The speaker is contrasting 'here' (aqui) with a distant place.
Fill in the blank with 'lá' or 'aqui'.
O Brasil é longe. Eu quero ir para ____.
Since Brazil is far (longe), 'lá' is the correct choice.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Someone asks you a question you don't know the answer to.
'Sei lá' is the idiomatic way to say 'I don't know'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Onde estão as chaves? B: Estão ____ na mesa da cozinha (pointing to the other room).
Since the keys are in another room, they are 'lá'.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Portuguese Spatial Adverbs
Banque d exercices
5 exercicesEu não moro aqui, eu moro ____.
The speaker is contrasting 'here' (aqui) with a distant place.
O Brasil é longe. Eu quero ir para ____.
Since Brazil is far (longe), 'lá' is the correct choice.
Someone asks you a question you don't know the answer to.
'Sei lá' is the idiomatic way to say 'I don't know'.
A: Onde estão as chaves? B: Estão ____ na mesa da cozinha (pointing to the other room).
Since the keys are in another room, they are 'lá'.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
7 questionsAli is for things that are visible and relatively close. Lá is for things that are far away or not visible.
Yes, in expressions like 'Lá pelas três horas' (Around three o'clock).
It is neutral and used in all levels of formality.
To distinguish it from the feminine article 'la' and to indicate the open vowel sound.
No, it is an adverb and never changes form.
You can say 'lá' or 'ali', depending on the distance.
It literally means 'out there', but it's the standard way to say 'abroad'.
Expressions liées
Ali
similarThere (visible)
Acolá
specialized formOver there (far)
Para lá
builds onTo there / Beyond
Sei lá
idiomI don't know
Où l'utiliser
Ordering a delivery
Customer: Vocês entregam lá no centro?
Attendant: Sim, entregamos lá todos os dias.
Asking about a friend
Ana: Onde está o Pedro?
Beto: Ele está lá em casa assistindo TV.
Expressing ignorance
Teacher: Quem quebrou o vidro?
Student: Sei lá, professor! Eu não vi.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Lá rhymes with 'Far' (if you stretch the 'a' sound). Think: 'Lá is far.'
Association visuelle
Imagine a long, straight road disappearing into the horizon. At the very end of that road is a giant letter 'L' for 'Lá'.
Rhyme
Aqui é aqui, lá é acolá. Se não está aqui, deve estar lá!
Story
A traveler asks a local where the hidden treasure is. The local points to a mountain on the horizon and says 'Lá'. The traveler walks for days, always looking 'lá', until he finally arrives.
In Other Languages
It is very similar to the Spanish 'allá' or 'allí'. In French, 'là' is used, but it often covers both 'here' and 'there', making Portuguese more precise.
Word Web
Défi
Throughout the day, point to 5 things that are far away from you and say out loud: 'Está lá'.
Review the difference between 'lá' and 'ali' tomorrow morning.
Prononciation
A clear, open 'a' sound like in 'father', but shorter.
Spectre de formalité
Dirijo-me para lá neste momento. (Leaving for a destination)
Eu vou para lá agora. (Leaving for a destination)
Tô indo lá. (Leaving for a destination)
Partiu lá! (Leaving for a destination)
Derived from the Latin 'illac', which was the feminine ablative form of 'illic' (that place).
Le savais-tu ?
Despite being only two letters, it is one of the most frequently used words in the Portuguese language.
Notes culturelles
Brazilians often use 'lá' to refer to the United States or Europe as a way of acknowledging the vast geographical distance.
“Ele está morando lá fora (He is living abroad/out there).”
In Portugal, 'lá' is often used in the expression 'Lá vai um' when something is being sent or thrown.
“Lá vai a bola!”
In Angolan Portuguese, 'lá' can be used to emphasize a long duration of time in the past.
“Isso foi lá no tempo da outra senhora (That was a very long time ago).”
Amorces de conversation
Você já foi para lá?
Como é o clima lá?
O que tem de bom para fazer lá?
Erreurs courantes
O livro está la.
O livro está lá.
L1 Interference
Eu estou lá (when you are already at the place).
Eu estou aqui.
L1 Interference
Vou lá o banheiro.
Vou lá ao banheiro / Vou lá no banheiro.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Allá / Allí
Portuguese 'lá' is shorter and used more frequently in casual speech than 'allá'.
Là-bas
Portuguese 'lá' inherently implies distance without needing an extra word.
Dort / Da
German 'dort' is strictly spatial, while Portuguese 'lá' has more idiomatic uses like 'sei lá'.
あそこ (Asoko)
Japanese grammar requires particles after 'asoko', whereas 'lá' can stand alone.
هناك (Hunaka)
Arabic 'hunaka' is also used to mean 'there is/are', while Portuguese uses 'há' or 'tem' for that.
Spotted in the Real World
“Lá vem o sol, para iluminar...”
A famous Brazilian pop song about the sun rising.
“Se a coisa não está boa, eu não vou lá reclamar.”
A samba anthem about going with the flow.
“A situação lá em Brasília continua indefinida.”
Reporting on political events in the capital.
Facile à confondre
Learners forget the accent.
Lá (with accent) is a place. La (no accent) is 'the' (feminine).
Both mean 'there'.
If you can touch it with a long stick, use 'ali'. If you need a car to get there, use 'lá'.
Questions fréquentes (7)
Ali is for things that are visible and relatively close. Lá is for things that are far away or not visible.
comparisonsYes, in expressions like 'Lá pelas três horas' (Around three o'clock).
usage contextsIt is neutral and used in all levels of formality.
basic understandingTo distinguish it from the feminine article 'la' and to indicate the open vowel sound.
grammar mechanicsNo, it is an adverb and never changes form.
grammar mechanicsYou can say 'lá' or 'ali', depending on the distance.
practical tipsIt literally means 'out there', but it's the standard way to say 'abroad'.
usage contexts
