Aquí vs. Acá: Two Ways to Say "Here" in Spanish

Did you know there are two ways to say "here" in Spanish? The words aquí and acá both translate as "here" in English, but are they really the same? Let's take a look!

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Aquí | The Most Common Word for "Here" in Spanish

The Royal Spanish Academy's initial definitions for the word aquí in Spanish are "at" or "to this place." Let's hear a couple of examples from Mexico and Spain:

No, gracias. Tengo unas galletas aquí.

No, thank you. I have some cookies here.

Caption 13, Conversaciones en el parque Cap. 2: Cafe y bocadillos
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Hoy estamos aquí en la costa de Málaga.

Today we're here on the coast of Malaga.

Caption 2, Amaya Cata de vinos
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Acá | Another Way to Say "Here" in Spanish

The Dictionary of the Spanish Language defines acá as "at" or "to this place or nearby." Here are two examples, from Mexico and Argentina:

y eso es lo que trato de hacer mayormente acá en Alemania,

and that's what I try to do mostly here in Germany

Caption 9, Hispanoamericanos en Berlín Karla y el pozole - Part 1
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Acá es donde trabaja el alcalde de Buenos Aires.

Here is where the mayor of Buenos Aires works.

Caption 10, Yabla en Buenos Aires Plaza Mayo - Part 2
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Aquí vs. Acá | What's the Difference?

As you may have noticed, the official definition of acá suggests a slightly broader or less precise sense of location. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Some places, like Mexico, observe a subtle distinction between aquí and acá, while others treat the two words as completely interchangeable.

2. Even where a difference exists, the exact scope of each word is hard to pin down, and individual usage varies widely.

3. Some regions favor one word almost exclusively. In Spain, aquí is the go-to word for "here," while in Argentina, acá is far more common.

The Takeaway | Aquí and Acá in Spanish

Whether you say aquí or acá, you'll be understood across the Spanish-speaking world! The choice often comes down to where you are — or where the person you're talking to is from. We hope this clears things up. Feel free to reach out with your questions and comments — we'd love to hear from you!