French Phrase
Oui, ils sont là‑bas.
Meaning
Literally “Yes, they are over there.” The speaker confirms that a group of people or objects previously discussed are located at a place that is not close to the speaker.
When to use
Use this sentence when someone asks where a group is and you want to give a short, affirmative answer that also points out the location. It works in casual conversation, tours, classroom instructions, or any situation where you need to confirm a distant location.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ouiilssontlà-bas
Oui (affirmation)
Used to answer positively to a yes/no question; can also start a confirming statement.
ils (subject pronoun)
Third‑person plural masculine or mixed‑gender pronoun; replaces a noun previously mentioned.
être – sont (present)
The verb ‘être’ conjugated for third‑person plural; expresses existence or location.
là‑bas (adverb of place)
Indicates a place that is relatively far from both speaker and listener, often used with a pointing gesture.
🗨In Conversation
Où sont tes amis ?
Where are your friends?
Oui, ils sont là‑bas.
Yes, they are over there.
✕Common Mistakes
Oui, ils sont là.
‘Là’ usually refers to a place close to the speaker; using it here would change the meaning to ‘they are here’.
Oui, ils sont là‑bas ?
Adding a question mark turns the statement into a question; the original sentence is a confirmation.
Oui ils sont là‑bas.
A comma (or a short pause) after ‘Oui’ is needed to separate the affirmation from the clause.
↔Alternatives
Oui, ils se trouvent là‑bas.
Yes, they are located over there.
Oui, ils sont à cet endroit.
Yes, they are at that place.
Oui, ils sont à l’autre bout.
Yes, they are at the other end.
Cultural Tip
In French, ‘là‑bas’ often carries a slight narrative flavor, as if the speaker is pointing to a spot on a map or in a story. It is more specific than the simple ‘là’, which can mean ‘here’ or ‘there’ depending on context. When you want to be very precise, you can add a gesture or a landmark after the phrase (e.g., ‘là‑bas, près du café’).