¿Estás ahí? or ¿Estás allí?

Question

I realize that the pronunciation varies only slightly, but if one is speaking on the phone and wants to ask, "Are you there" is it acceptable to ask them in either of the above ways? Is there any difference between ahí and allí? Can they be used interchangably? I appreciate your help, thanks!

in this case I think "¿estás ahí" is more correct, since "estás allí" could ask about if the person has already arrived at some specific place. - AntMexico, Nov 26, 2009

¡Frijoles frescos! - aloshek, Nov 26, 2009

What do you mean with "frijoles frescos"? :D ... new info? - AntMexico, Nov 26, 2009

Frijoles frescos = cool beans (American exclamation of surprise or gratitude) - aloshek, Nov 27, 2009

Answer 1

Well in my country people use both indistinctly. Acording to the RAE defition they are synonims but the point 4 says that "allí" has fallen into disuse (!)

Sometimes we use "allí" to emphazise the place where something is located, e.g.

• Mom, where's my backpack?
• I've told you it's under your bed!
• Where? I can't see it!
• Pay attention! it's "allí, allí,allí" (yes, 3 times when you're some upset!)

ahí.

(De a-1 y el ant. hi, y, en tal lugar).

1. adv. l. En ese lugar, o a ese lugar.

2. adv. l. En esto, o en eso. Ahí está la dificultad.

3. adv. l. Esto o eso. DE ahí se deduce. POR ahí puede conocerse la verdad.

4. adv. l. desus. allí.

Seriously, "allí has fallen into disuse???" Before today I did not know "ahí" even existed! Thanks for the help Toni! - aloshek, Nov 26, 2009

At least in Mexico isn't into disuse! here commonly "ahí" is changed into - 'ái - ¿estás ahí? > ¿'tas'ái? - AntMexico, Nov 26, 2009

Sorry it took so long to accept the answer. I forget about doing that at times. - aloshek, Dec 19, 2009

Answer 2

I use aqui here,in this place. (Ven aqui) Ahi means around-about here (Está por ahi)

Answer 3

[previous link containing other link on ahí allí allá][1]

[1]: ¿Alli or ahi?