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A1GrammarЗдесь, там, туда́

здесь, там, туда́

Russian splits “where” into being somewhere and going somewhere — and does the same for here, there and everywhere.

Quick answer

Three questions, three sets of answers: где? (where at), куда́? (where to), отку́да? (where from).

The full grid

где? — atкуда́? — toотку́да? — from
hereздесь / тутсюда́отсю́да
thereтамтуда́отту́да
homeдо́мадомо́йиз до́ма
everywhereвезде́всю́дуотовсю́ду
nowhereнигде́никуда́ниотку́да

The three home forms are the ones you will use daily: Я до́ма (I’m at home), Я иду́ домо́й (I’m going home), and neither is в дом or в до́ме.

здесь or тут?

Practically the same. Тут is shorter, more colloquial and more frequent in speech; здесь is slightly more neutral and the one to use in writing. Both answer где?, and the “to here” form for both is сюда́.

Я здесь.I’m here.
Иди́ сюда́!Come here!
Я отсю́да.I’m from here.
Положи́ туда́.Put it over there.

The same logic in the cases

This is the в + prepositional versus в + accusative distinction in adverb form. Я в Москве́ / Я в Москву́ is exactly там / туда́. Learning the adverbs first makes the case rule click, because the difference is audible in a single syllable.

Куда́ ты?

A complete, very common question with no verb at all: Куда́ ты? — where are you off to? The куда́ already carries the motion, so идёшь can be dropped.

Typical mistakes

Иди́ здесь!

Иди́ сюда́!

Motion towards needs сюда́.

Я иду́ до́ма.

Я иду́ домо́й.

домо́й is the “to home” form.

Check yourself

Иди́ ___! — Come here!

Motion towards: сюда́.

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