velaquí / velaí

Here It Is: Velaquí and Velaí

Level 3

Velaquí (here is, here you are) and velaí (there is, there goes) point at something you can see: Velaquí o libro (Here is the book), Velaí está! (There it is!).

How It Works

Presenting a noun. No verb is needed: Velaquí as chaves (Here are the keys), Velaí a torre da catedral (There is the cathedral tower).

Handing something over. Velaquí o tes (Here you are). The pronoun matches the thing you give: o for o libro, a for a chave, os or as for plurals: Velaquí as tes. See direct object pronouns.

With a verb. Velaí often introduces something that is moving or arriving: Velaí vén o autobús (There's the bus coming), Velaí vai o teu irmán (There goes your brother). With estar it announces that something has been found: Velaí está! (There it is!).

Pointing back at a reason. Velaí can also point at what was just said as the explanation of something: Adestra todos os días; velaí que gañe sempre (She trains every day; that is why she always wins).

Not the same as hai. Hai says that something exists (Hai un libro na mesa). Velaquí shows the listener something that is right there.

A literary synonym. Written and literary Galician also uses eis: Eis os cartos (Here is the money).

Spelling. Each is one word with a written accent: velaquí, velaí.

Examples (6)

  1. Velaquí o libro que me pediches.

    Here is the book you asked me for.

    Word by Word: Here-is the book that me asked-you.

  2. Velaquí o tes.

    Here you are.

    Word by Word: Here-is it have-you.

    Used when handing something over; o refers to the thing.

  3. Velaí está!

    There it is!

    Word by Word: There-is is!

  4. Velaí vén o autobús.

    There's the bus coming.

    Word by Word: There-is comes the bus.

  5. Velaí a torre da catedral.

    There is the cathedral tower.

    Word by Word: There-is the tower of-the cathedral.

  6. Adestra todos os días; velaí que gañe sempre.

    She trains every day; that is why she always wins.

    Word by Word: Trains-she all the days; there-is that wins-she always.

    Here velaí points back at the reason just given, and the verb after que is in the subjunctive: gañe.

Common Mistakes

  • Translating Spanish he aquí word for word.

    He aquí o libro.
    Velaquí o libro.

    He aquí is not Galician. Use velaquí to present something that is here.

  • Leaving out the accent.

    Velaqui o tes.
    Velaquí o tes.

    Velaquí and velaí are stressed on the last syllable and always carry a written accent.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

velaquí / velaíLevel 3Here It Is: Velaquí and Velaí

Learn This First

Velaquí and velaí present something in view or in the discourse.

Words in This Pattern

velaquívelaí