Là- French Prefix

Prefix: là-

Type of prefix: adverbial

The French prefix là- can be added to certain adverbs of place to mean "there" or "that." This is the complete list:

   là-haut
   up there

   là-bas
   down there, over there

   là-dessus
   on top of that

   là-dessous
   under that

   là-devant
   in front of that

   là-derrière
   behind that

   là-dedans
   inside that

   là-dehors
   outside (of) that

Là- can also be added to one other adverb:

   là-même
   right there, in that very place

Note: As it can only be added to adverbs, là- is less flexible than its antonym ci-.

Grammatical agreement: There is never any agreement with the adverbs attached to là-.

   Qui est cette fille là-bas ?
   Who is that girl over there?

   J'ai trouvé les clés là-haut.
   I found the keys up there.


Related lesson: -là as a suffix

Antonym: The opposite of là- is ci-.