Italian Phrase
È lontano da qui?
Meaning
Literally ‘Is it far from here?’, this question asks whether a place, object, or person is at a considerable distance from the speaker’s current location. It can be used for both concrete distances (e.g., a train station) and more abstract notions (e.g., a goal).
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to gauge how much travel time or effort is required to reach a destination, when asking for directions, or when you’re curious about the proximity of a landmark during a tour.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Èlontanodaqui?
È (essere)
Third‑person singular present of the verb *essere*; used here to describe location.
lontano
Adjective meaning ‘far’; agrees in gender and number with the subject (here masculine singular).
da
Preposition that introduces the reference point for distance; literally ‘from’.
qui
Adverb meaning ‘here’, the point of reference for the question.
🗨In Conversation
Scusi, la stazione è lontano da qui?
Excuse me, is the station far from here?
No, è a cinque minuti a piedi.
No, it’s a five‑minute walk.
✕Common Mistakes
È lontano qui?
Missing the preposition *da*; Italian requires *da* to mark the reference point.
È lontano di qui?
The preposition *di* is not used for distance; use *da* instead.
È lontano a qui?
The combination *a qui* is incorrect for this construction; *da qui* is the proper form.
↔Alternatives
È distante da qui?
Is it distant from here?
È molto lontano da qui?
Is it very far from here?
Quanto è lontano da qui?
How far is it from here?
Cultural Tip
In everyday Italian, *lontano* can also be used figuratively, e.g., *un sogno lontano* (a distant dream). When asking for directions, Italians often follow up with a request for the approximate walking or driving time, so be ready to hear answers like *a dieci minuti a piedi* or *in treno, circa 20 minuti*.