"Who is over there?"

Translation: Kto tam jest?

[va-diim]

Clicking the words in this sentence translates both "over" and "there," separately, as „tam". How would you say "over there," as opposed to "there," in Polish?

[Jellei]

I don't see any option that would be natural in such a sentence and would denote the difference between "over there" and "there". In other contexts an a bit colloquial construction "o tam" could work. With pointing the direction with your finger.

[va-diim]

So the colloquial phrase "over there" is "o tam" in Polish? Samochód stał o tam. ?

[mitStrudel]

Could kto tam? work here?

[Jellei]

"Kto tam?" is the obvious, natural way of saying "Who's there?" when someone is knocking on your door, but I think that if the English sentence had "over there", it's not a good translation. As it generally only works when someone is knocking.

[Grodmannen]

What about "Kto jest tam"? Is that fine too?

[Jellei]

Yes, sounds okay.

[Baerchen_]

So what is exactly the difference between "Kto jest tam?" and "Kto tam jest?" ? Personally I would have chosen "Kto jest tam?" - as the questions are usually structered like that in the past lessons above.

[IvesAB]

I would like to know that as well. Maybe there is a difference on the emphasis? Idk

[va-diim]

Yes, the emphasis in Slavic languages is typically on the last word in the sentence. Kto jest tam? emphasizes "there."

[IvesAB]

Good to know. Thank you

[wandamast]

I think "Kto tam?" should count as well... yes, it implies a "knock on the door" situation, but it is used so often, I think it should count

[Jellei]

But would you say "Who is over there?" if someone knocked on the door? Because we added that "over" exactly to discourage people from thinking about the 'knock on the door' situation, for which "Kto tam jest?" would be at least unusual.