Language/Spanish/Vocabulary/AQUI-ACA-AHI-ALLI-VAMOS-VAMONOS-Algunas-Aclaraciones
These are words with very similar meanings that can be used as synonyms interchangeably on most occasions, and even if they are not used properly, most Spanish-speaking people will understand you perfectly.
AQUÍ / ACÁ
Demonstrative adverbs of place. They refer to a position, situation, or place, always close to you.
- Ven para aquí / Ven para acá - Come here / Come here.
- Trae para aquí / Trae para acá - Bring it here / Bring it here.
However, we usually say "Aquí hay." "Acá hay" is not used.
The use of "Acá" is more widespread in Latin America.
AHÍ / ALLÍ
They are demonstrative adverbs of place as well. They mean "a place" or "a position."
AHÍ refers to a place or position next to you.
- Déjalo ahí - Leave it there.
- Juan vive ahí - Juan lives there.
- Ahí hay una casa - There is a house there.
ALLÍ implies that something is a little far from you, but not too far.
- Juan vive allí - Juan lives there.
- Voy a ir allí - I'll go there.
- Ahí está la hierba y allí están los árboles - There is the grass and there are the trees.
VAMOS
First person plural present indicative.
- Nosotros vamos a cenar - We are going to have dinner.
- Nosotras vamos a comer - We are going to eat.
- Ahora vamos means that you are going to move right now to get to a place or meeting.
VÁMONOS
Also first person plural (we / us), but in imperative form.
Equivalent to VAMOS + NOS / NOS VAMOS
¡Vámonos de aquí! means that you have to leave a place now.
They can sometimes be used synonymously.
- ¡Venga, vamos! - Come on, let's go!
- ¡Venga, vámonos! - Come on, let's go!
And some other times they can't, for example in response to a question:
- ¿Vais a venir? ¡Sí, ahora vamos! - Will you come? Yes, now let's go!
But there is no such answer as: ¡Sí, ahora vámonos!
¡Ahora vámonos! has a meaning of obligation.
For example, when the cinema or the theater is over, we can say, ¡Y ahora vámonos! but we don't say ¡Y ahora vamos!
However, we can say ¡Y ahora nos vamos!