How to Say Here, There, and Over There in Arabic: Complete Beginner's Guide

Welcome! If you are starting your language journey, mastering basic demonstratives is a crucial step. Today, we are here to learn demonstratives in Arabic, focusing specifically on two essential adverbs of place: here, there, and over there in Arabic.

Watch the video below for a quick introduction, and then we will dive into the vocabulary, grammar context, sentence examples, and exercises.

Meaning and Usage of the Word "Huna" (هُنَا)

Huna (هُنَا) is a Demonstrative Pronoun (Isim Isyarah) used to point to a nearby place.

1. Basic Usage Examples

• هُنَا يَسْكُنُ (Huna yaskunu): He lives here.
• اُدْخُلْ مِنْ هُنَا (Udkhul min huna): Enter from here.

2. Variations of the Word "Huna"

The base word Huna can change form depending on the prefixes or suffixes added to it:

Adding "Ha" (هَا) at the beginning:

Known as Ha at-Tanbih (a particle for drawing attention).

• Example: هَا هُنَا (Ha huna) — It still means "here" or "right here" (with added emphasis).

Adding "Kaf" (كَ) at the end:

Known as Kaf al-Khitab (a suffix addressed to the listener).

• Example: هُنَاكَ (Hunaka) — This means "there" (medium distance).
• Special Function: This word can also mean "there is" or "there are."
• Example: هُنَاكَ حَيَاةٌ جَمِيلَةٌ (Hunaka hayatun jamilatun) — Means: "There is a beautiful life."

Adding "Lam" (لِ) and "Kaf" (كَ):

The Lam is known as Lam al-Bu'di (indicating far distance).

• Example: هُنَالِكَ (Hunalika) — This means "over there" (for far distances).
• Example Sentence: هُنَالِكَ كُنَّا نَلْتَقِي أَيَّامَ الصَّيْفِ — Means: "Over there is where we used to meet during the summer days."

Source: Al-Ma'ani Dictionary

3. Example in the Qur'an

The word Hunalika is also frequently used in the Qur'an to point to a specific place or situation, such as in Surah Ali 'Imran, verse 38:

هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّاءُ رَبَّهُ

"At that place (or at that time), Zechariah prayed to his Lord."

Quick Summary for Beginners:

Word	Distance	Meaning
Huna / Ha huna	Near	Here
Hunaka	Medium / Existence	There / There is
Hunalika	Far	Over there (far)

Vocabulary & Grammar Context: Huna vs. Hunaaka

In Arabic syntax and semantics, these words function as adverbs of place (ظَرْفُ مَكَان - Zharf Makan). They are used to indicate the physical proximity of an object or person.

• Here in Arabic is هُنَا (hunaa). Use this to point to something physically close to you.
• There in Arabic is هُنَاكَ (hunaaka). Use this to point to something at a medium distance.
• Over there in Arabic is هُنَالِكَ (hunaalika). This is an advanced bonus word! Use it for objects that are very far away.

Additional Phrases Using Hunaa (هُنَا)

• إِلَى هُنَا: over here
• مِنْ هُنَا: from here
• إِلَى هُنَاكَ: over there
• مِنْ هُنَاكَ: from there

Sentence Examples With Transliteration

Before we jump into the sentences, we are going to use three common question words:

1. مَاذَا (maadzaa) => it means "what"
2. مَنْ (man) => it means "who"
3. أَيْنَ (ayna) => it means "where"

Examples of sentences in Arabic using here and there:

الْمَكْتَبُ هُنَا
(Al-maktabu hunaa)
The table is here.

الْكُرْسِيُّ هُنَاكَ
(Al-kursiyyu hunaaka)
The chair is there.

مَاذَا هُنَا ؟
(Maadzaa hunaa?)
What is here?

مَاذَا هُنَاكَ ؟
(Maadzaa hunaaka?)
What is there?

أَحْمَدُ هُنَا
(Ahmadu hunaa)
Ahmad is here.

مُحَمَّدٌ هُنَاكَ
(Muhammadun hunaaka)
Muhammad is there.

مَنْ هُنَا ؟
(Man hunaa?)
Who is here?

مَنْ هُنَاكَ ؟
(Man hunaaka?)
Who is there?

بَيْتِيْ هُنَاكَ
(Baytiy hunaaka)
My house is there.

أَيْنَ بَيْتُكَ ؟
(Ayna baytuka?)
Where is your house?

Short Conversational Dialogue

Hunaa Vs. Hunaaka

Let's see how these words are used in a simple, everyday conversation:

A: أَيْنَ كِتَابِي؟ (Ayna kitaabiy?) - Where is my book?
B: كِتَابُكَ هُنَا. (Kitaabuka hunaa.) - Your book is here.
A: وَمَنْ هُنَاكَ؟ (Wa man hunaaka?) - And who is there?
B: أَحْمَدُ هُنَاكَ. (Ahmadu hunaaka.) - Ahmad is there.

Come Over Here! – A Practical Dialogue Using "إِلَى هُنَا"

A. Scenario
It’s a typical afternoon at home. Thomas is sitting in the living room looking for something, and he calls his son, William, who is playing in the other room. Thomas wants William to come over so they can look for a missing book together.

B. Purpose of the Dialogue
The goal of this conversation is to demonstrate the natural, everyday use of the phrase "إِلَى هُنَا" (ila huna), which means "to here" or "over here." It is one of the most common ways to direct someone toward your current location in a house.

C. The Dialogue

Thomas: يَا وِلْيَامُ (Hey William!)
William: نَعَم يَا أَبِي؟ (Yeah, Dad?)
Thomas: تَعَالَ إِلَى هُنَا مِنْ فَضْلِكَ. (Come over here for a second, please.)
William: أَنَا قَادِمٌ الآنَ. (I’m coming right now.)
Thomas: اِجْلِسْ هُنَا بِجَانِبِي. (Have a seat right here next to me.)
William: حَسَنًا يَا أَبِي. (Alright, Dad.)

Go This Way! – A Practical Dialogue Using "مِنْ هُنَا"

A. Scenario
Edward is in the kitchen and wants to go to the backyard, but the main hallway is blocked by some cleaning supplies. His father, James, is nearby and points him toward a quicker, easier way through the side door.

B. Purpose of the Dialogue
This conversation is designed to showcase the everyday use of the phrase "مِنْ هُنَا" (min huna), which means "from here" or "this way." It is commonly used when giving directions or showing someone a specific path inside a house.

C. The Dialogue

Edward: يَا أَبِي، أَيْنَ طَرِيقُ الحَدِيقَةِ؟ (Dad, which way to the backyard?)
James: اِذْهَبْ مِنْ هُنَا، يَا إِدْوَرْد. (Go through here, Edward.)
Edward: هَلْ هَذَا البَابُ مَفْتُوحٌ؟ (Is this door open?)
James: نَعَمْ، اِخْرُجْ مِنْ هُنَا. (Yeah, head out this way.)
Edward: شُكْرًا يَا أَبِي! (Thanks, Dad!)
James: عَفْوًا، يَا بُنَيَّ. (You're welcome, son.)

"Head Over There" – A Practical Dialogue Using "إِلَى هُنَاكَ"

A. Scenario
Robert is a new employee at the office and is carrying a stack of files. He isn't quite sure where the meeting room is. He stops his colleague, Michael, in the hallway to ask for directions. Michael points toward a room at the end of the hall to guide him.

B. Purpose of the Dialogue
This conversation demonstrates how to use the phrase "إِلَى هُنَاكَ" (ila hunaaka), which means "to there" or "over there." While hunaaka simply means "there," adding the preposition ila (to) indicates movement or direction toward a specific distant point.

C. The Dialogue

Robert: مَعْذِرَةً يَا مَايْكِل، أَيْنَ غُرْفَةُ الِاجْتِمَاعِ؟ (Excuse me, Michael, where is the meeting room?)
Michael: اُنْظُرْ، هِيَ فِي آخِرِ المَمَرِّ. (Look, it’s at the end of the hall.)
Robert: هَلْ أَذْهَبُ الآنَ؟ (Should I head over now?)
Michael: نَعَمْ، اِذْهَبْ إِلَى هُنَاكَ بِسُرْعَةٍ. (Yeah, head over there quickly.)
Robert: شُكْرًا جَزِيلًا! (Thanks a lot!)
Michael: عَفْوًا (You're welcome.)

Grab It From Over There – A Practical Dialogue Using "مِنْ هُنَاكَ"

A. Scenario
David is standing by the printer, but it seems to be out of paper. He asks his colleague, Steven, where he can find more. Steven points to a storage cabinet located at a distance across the room to guide him.

B. Purpose of the Dialogue
This conversation illustrates how to use the phrase "مِنْ هُنَاكَ" (min hunaaka), which means "from there" or "from over there." While min huna means "from here," using hunaaka indicates that the object needs to be retrieved from a location away from the speakers.

C. The Dialogue

David: مَعْذِرَةً يَا سْتِيفِن، أَيْنَ أَوْرَاقُ الطَّابِعَةِ؟ (Excuse me, Steven, where is the printer paper?)
Steven: هِيَ فِي ذَلِكَ الْمَكْتَبِ. (It’s in that cabinet over there.)
David: هَلْ آخُذُهَا الآنَ؟ (Should I grab it now?)
Steven: نَعَمْ، خُذِ الأَوْرَاقَ مِنْ هُنَاكَ. (Yeah, go ahead and grab the paper from there.)
David: شُكْرًا جَزِيلاً عَلَى الْمُسَاعَدَةِ. (Thanks a lot for the help!)
Steven: لَا شُكْرَ عَلَى وَاجِبٍ. (Don't mention it / Happy to help.)

Exercises: Test Your Knowledge

Translate the English sentences into Arabic, then answer the question in Arabic as well.

1. What does Ahmed do there?
Ahmed is reading a book there.

2. What does Muhammad do here?
Muhammad is sweeping the floor here.

Answers:

1.
مَاذَا يَعْمَلُ أَحْمَدُ هُنَاكَ ؟
(Maadzaa ya'malu Ahmadu hunaaka?)
أَحْمَدُ يَقْرَأُ الْكِتَابَ هُنَاكَ
(Ahmadu yaqra'ul kitaaba hunaaka)

2.
مَاذَا يَعْمَلُ مُحَمَّدٌ هُنَا ؟
(Maadzaa ya'malu Muhammadun hunaa?)
مُحَمَّدٌ يَكْنُسُ البِلَاطَ هُنَا
(Muhammadun yaknusul bilaatha hunaa)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Are "huna" and "hunaaka" nouns or verbs?

A: Neither! In Arabic grammar, they are classified as adverbs of place (Zharf Makan) used as demonstratives.

Q: How do you say "come here" in Arabic?

A: To tell someone to "come here," you say تَعَالَ هُنَا (Ta'aala hunaa) when speaking to a male, or تَعَالَيْ هُنَا (Ta'aalay hunaa) when speaking to a female.

Q: What is the difference between hunaaka and hunaalika?

A: Hunaaka means "there" (medium distance), while hunaalika means "over there" (far distance).

Keep Learning!

If you found these grammar breakdowns helpful and want to dive deeper into Arabic morphology, syntax, and daily conversational practice, be sure to keep an eye out for our upcoming complete Arabic learning exclusively for beginners!

Position & Direction in Arabic
Learn Adverb of Place in Arabic | Zarf Makaan