Ici is likely the first word you learned to say "here" in French. But French offers a surprising variety of ways to express "here," each with its own subtle nuance. Understanding these different options will help you sound more natural and precise in your conversations, whether you're pointing out a location or emphasizing presence. Let's explore 9 different ways to say "here" in French, and when to use each!

The most common and direct 'here' – ici

The most common and direct "here" – ici

Ici is the most straightforward and commonly used French word for "here". It refers to the immediate vicinity or the speaker's current location.

You can use ici in almost any situation where you would say "here" in English, whether you're pointing to a spot, indicating your presence, or referring to a general area.

While both ici and là can mean "here" or "there," ici specifically denotes "right here," or "this very spot." Là is more ambiguous and can mean "here" (less precise than ici) or "there." Think of ici as "hic" (Latin for here) and là as "illic" (Latin for there).

Ici emphasizes a precise, immediate location. If you want to indicate "right where I am" or "in this place specifically," ici is the word to use.

Beyond physical location, ici can also be used figuratively to mean "in this matter," "at this point (in time or discussion)," or "in this country/region."

It appears in many common expressions, such as "par ici" (this way), "d'ici là" (by then/by that time), or "ici bas" (down here, on earth).

You can also use ici to add emphasis, similar to "right here" or "over here" in English, drawing attention to a particular spot or presence.

Ici is suitable for all registers, from casual conversation to formal writing, making it a versatile and essential word in French vocabulary.

💡 * Viens ici ! (Come here!)

• J'habite ici, c'est ma maison. (I live here, it's my house.)
• Le bureau est juste ici, au coin de la rue. (The office is right here, on the street corner.)
• Par ici, s'il vous plaît, pour la sortie. (This way, please, for the exit.)
• Nous sommes bien ici, l'ambiance est agréable. (We are comfortable here, the atmosphere is pleasant.)

The versatile 'here' (often implying proximity or 'there') – là

The French adverb là is incredibly versatile, often translated as 'there' but can also mean 'here' depending on context, especially when implying proximity or a less precise 'here'.

Most commonly, là translates to 'there', indicating a location that is not immediately next to the speaker but still within reasonable proximity. However, it can also mean 'here' when the speaker is referring to a general area rather than an exact spot.

The key distinction often lies in precision. While ici strictly means 'here' (the exact spot where the speaker is), là is more flexible. Think of ici as 'right here' and là as 'over here' or 'over there'.

Là also serves an important emphatic or demonstrative function, often appended to nouns or pronouns to specify 'this one' or 'that one'. For example, celui-là (that one), ce livre-là (that book).

Beyond spatial meaning, là can refer to time, meaning 'then' or 'at that moment'. This is particularly common in narrative contexts or when referring to a specific point in time.

You'll encounter là in many common French expressions, such as voilà (there it is/here it is), là-bas (over there, further away), and Ça y est, c'est là! (That's it, it's here/there!).

Ultimately, mastering là comes down to context. Pay attention to the surrounding words and the speaker's intent to correctly interpret its meaning, whether it's 'here', 'there', 'then', or for emphasis.

💡 * Je suis là. (I am here/there. - depending on context, often implying 'I'm present' or 'I'm at that place you mentioned').

• Mets le livre là, s'il te plaît. (Put the book there, please.)
• Ce n'est pas ce livre-ci, c'est ce livre-là. (It's not this book [here], it's that book [there].)
• À ce moment-là, j'ai compris. (At that moment, I understood.)
• Viens voir, c'est là! (Come see, it's here/there! - implying discovery or pointing out something nearby).

The 'around here' or 'this way' – par ici

The French expression par ici is a versatile phrase that generally translates to 'this way' or 'around here' in English. It's fundamental for giving directions or indicating proximity.

When used to indicate a specific direction, par ici means 'this way,' guiding someone along a path or towards a particular point. Think of it as pointing with words.

It can also mean 'around here,' referring to a general vicinity or an approximate location without being overly precise. This is useful when you're not sure of the exact spot.

You'll frequently hear par ici when someone is giving instructions, leading the way, or inviting someone to follow, effectively saying 'come along this path' or 'this is the route'.

This phrase is typically used with verbs of movement, such as venir (to come), passer (to pass/go), or aller (to go), to specify the path or the general area of movement.

💡 * Viens par ici, s'il te plaît. (Come this way, please.)

• Le restaurant est par ici, je crois. (The restaurant is around here, I think.)
• Passez par ici pour trouver la sortie. (Go this way to find the exit.)
• Il y a un bon café par ici. (There's a good coffee shop around here.)
• On doit aller par ici pour le métro. (We need to go this way for the metro.)

The 'on the spot' or 'on site' (for an event or action) – sur place

The French expression sur place directly translates to "on the spot" or "on site" in English. It signifies something occurring or being available at the specific location in question.

It is commonly used to specify that an event, service, or facility is available or takes place at the venue itself, rather than remotely or elsewhere. Think of it as "here, at this very location".

Sur place emphasizes immediate physical presence or availability. For example, if you can buy tickets sur place, it means you purchase them directly at the venue, not in advance or online.

This phrase often implies a contrast with other options like delivery, takeaway, or remote access, underscoring the necessity or convenience of being physically present at the site.

💡 * Les billets sont en vente sur place. (Tickets are on sale on site.)

• Nous avons mangé sur place. (We ate on site/there.)
• L'enquête a été menée sur place. (The investigation was conducted on the spot.)
• Il y a un parking sur place. (There's parking on site.)
• La réunion aura lieu sur place. (The meeting will take place on site.)

The 'here I am' or 'here we are' (when announcing arrival) – me voici/nous voici

The 'here I am' or 'here we are' (when announcing arrival) – me voici/nous voici

Me voici and nous voici are concise and expressive phrases meaning 'here I am' and 'here we are' respectively, primarily used to announce one's or a group's arrival or presence.

These phrases are formed with the demonstrative particle voici (meaning 'here is/are') combined with direct object pronouns: me (me) for 'I' and nous (us) for 'we'.

They are often used when entering a place, presenting oneself, or making one's presence known, carrying a slightly more emphatic tone than simply saying 'I am here' or 'we are here'.

While Je suis ici (I am here) is a simple statement of location, me voici conveys a sense of arrival or presentation, often with a touch of theatricality or a clear declaration.

These expressions are versatile and can be used in various contexts, from casual to more formal, whenever a clear announcement of presence is desired.

💡 * Me voici ! Je suis en avance. (Here I am! I'm early.)

• Nous voici enfin ! La route était longue. (Here we are at last! The road was long.)
• Quand la porte s'ouvrit, le roi dit : "Me voici !" (When the door opened, the king said: "Here I am!")
• Après des heures de marche, nous voici au sommet de la montagne. (After hours of walking, here we are at the top of the mountain.)
• Me voici, prêt à commencer le travail. (Here I am, ready to start work.)

The 'here it is' or 'there it is' (when presenting something or pointing) – voilà

The French word voilà is incredibly versatile and commonly used. While it literally translates to "see there" (vois là), its everyday meaning is closer to "here it is," "there it is," "that's it," or "there you go" in English.

Its most frequent use is to present something or someone, or to point something out. Imagine handing someone an object: you'd say voilà. Or if you're showing someone where something is, you'd also use voilà.

Voilà can also be used to conclude an explanation or a story, much like "that's it" or "there you have it" in English. It signifies the end or the essence of what has been said.

Furthermore, voilà can express a sense of realization or satisfaction, like "there you go!" or "finally!" For instance, if you've been searching for something and find it, you might exclaim Voilà!.

While voilà generally means "there it is" (referring to something further away or already mentioned), its counterpart voici means "here it is" (referring to something closer or about to be mentioned). However, in common speech, voilà is often used for both "here it is" and "there it is."

💡 *Voilà ton café. (Here is your coffee.)
*Regarde, voilà la Tour Eiffel ! (Look, there's the Eiffel Tower!)
*J'ai fini mon travail, voilà. (I've finished my work, there you go.)
*Et voilà, vous savez comment conjuguer ce verbe. (And there you have it, you know how to conjugate this verb.)
*Ah, voilà ! C'est exactement ce que je cherchais. (Ah, there it is! That's exactly what I was looking for.)

The emphatic 'right here' or 'at this very place' – là-même

To express 'right here,' 'right there,' or 'at this very place' in French, you'll often use the emphatic adverbial phrase là-même.

The addition of même after là serves to intensify the location, stressing that something is happening precisely at that spot, leaving no room for ambiguity.

While là generally means 'there' and ici means 'here,' là-même elevates the specificity, pointing to an exact, undeniable position. It's often used when confirming a location or emphasizing its precision.

💡 * Je l'ai vu là-même, devant la porte. (I saw him right there, in front of the door.)

• C'est là-même que nous nous sommes rencontrés pour la première fois. (It's right here/there that we met for the first time.)
• Le trésor est caché là-même, sous l'arbre. (The treasure is hidden right here/there, under the tree.)
• Elle a insisté pour que la réunion ait lieu là-même. (She insisted that the meeting take place right here/there.)

The formal 'in this location' or 'at this venue' – en ce lieu

The formal 'in this location' or 'at this venue' – en ce lieu.

En ce lieu is a formal French expression that translates directly to 'in this place' or 'at this venue'. It refers specifically to the physical location where an action or event is occurring or being discussed.

This phrase is considerably more formal than its common counterparts, such as ici (here) or à cet endroit (at this spot). You'll typically encounter en ce lieu in written documents, official speeches, historical texts, or when a speaker wants to convey a sense of gravitas or solemnity regarding a specific location.

💡 * Nous nous réunissons en ce lieu sacré pour célébrer. (We gather in this sacred place to celebrate.)

• La cérémonie aura lieu en ce lieu historique. (The ceremony will take place at this historic venue.)
• Il est interdit de fumer en ce lieu. (Smoking is forbidden in this place.)
• Les artistes exposeront leurs œuvres en ce lieu d'art. (The artists will exhibit their works in this art venue.)

The precise 'at this exact spot' or 'in this specific area' – à cet endroit

When you want to express 'at this exact spot' or 'in this specific area' in French, the most precise and common phrase to use is à cet endroit.

The phrase à cet endroit is composed of three essential parts: à (meaning 'at' or 'in'), cet (the masculine singular demonstrative adjective for 'this' or 'that'), and endroit (a masculine noun meaning 'place,' 'spot,' or 'location').

The strength of à cet endroit lies in its specificity. Unlike the more general ici (here) or là (there), this phrase emphasizes a particular or exact point, making it ideal for situations requiring precise geographical or spatial reference.

As endroit is a masculine noun, it correctly takes the demonstrative adjective cet. This phrase is versatile and can be used in various contexts, from giving directions to describing where an event took place, always stressing the exactness of the location.

💡 * Je l'ai trouvé à cet endroit exact. (I found it at this exact spot.)

• Pouvez-vous me montrer à cet endroit sur la carte ? (Can you show me at this spot on the map?)
• La collision a eu lieu à cet endroit. (The collision occurred at this spot.)
• C'est à cet endroit que nous nous sommes rencontrés pour la première fois. (It's at this spot that we met for the first time.)
• Il n'y a pas de signal à cet endroit. (There's no signal in this specific area.)

Are there other ways to say 'here' in French?

Are there other ways to say “here” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say “here” in French, such as ici and là. But as with most words, there are other expressions, from old-fashioned ones to regional ones, and even slang variations.

You can also do an online search for “comment dire ici en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region to discover local nuances.

You might find some interesting synonyms or idiomatic expressions for ici. Of course, make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it yourself.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to express “here” depending on the situation and speaker.

And if you’re looking for more specific ways to talk about being present or indicating location in French, the WordReference entry for ici is a great place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. Remember, mastering the subtle differences between expressions like ici and là will greatly enhance your fluency and understanding of French. Keep exploring!