Siinä Vs Tuossa

[Fasianos]

I am curious to know what the real differences between these two words are. Both seem to be essentially "there" but there are of course nuances behind them that I often seem to be missing sometimes because many Finns don't necessarily classify them to be the same word.

I'm actually thinking it may PERHAPS be that siinä is "right there" (not where I am) and tuossa is "right there" (in front of me)?

So.. Se on kettiössä siinä radion vieressä would be "It is in the kitchen right there next to the radio" (not in front of you) and if you were to say "Se on kettiössä tuossa radion vieressää" it wouldn't make much sense because you'd be right next to it, right?

This would explain why "Ja kun kävelet eteenpäin siinä on pöytä" cannot have the word tuossa in that sentence because it's not in front of you.

But then again, I've seen a picture of a table and a lamp and the caption said "Siinä se on" as in "there is the lamp" instead of tuossa where tuossa in my opinion would make more sense. Can both words be just synonyms in such an example?

Before I over-think this through and perhaps answer my own question in this post, I better post it and see what some professionals say!

[Rob A.]

This recent thread might interest you:

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=50267

Before I over-think this through and perhaps answer my own question in this post, I better post it and see what some professionals say!

And...hmmmm...I'm not sure who the "professionals" are... ....as far as I know ..."ain't nobody here but us chickens"....

[Jukka Aho]

I'm actually thinking it may PERHAPS be that siinä is "right there" (not where I am) and tuossa is "right there" (in front of me)?

So.. Se on kettiössä siinä radion vieressä would be "It is in the kitchen right there next to the radio" (not in front of you) and if you were to say "Se on kettiössä tuossa radion vieressää" it wouldn't make much sense because you'd be right next to it, right?

That’s a pretty good eplanation. When you use siinä or siellä, you’re typically referring to something you can’t directly see from the position where you’re speaking. (The referred object is likely not in the same room, or you might even be explaining the location of some remote thing in some remote place over the phone, or something. You don’t have an easy or immediate access to the thing yourself.) When you use tuossa or tuolla, it’s somewhere nearby, most likely immediately visible to you, or at least you could easily go and fetch or see it yourself, and nodding or pointing at it is usually enough to reveal its location.

There can be some overlap, though.

This would explain why "Ja kun kävelet eteenpäin siinä on pöytä" cannot have the word tuossa in that sentence because it's not in front of you.

That’s correct. Siinä can be used for referring to the “right there” locations of objects and places on which you have a mental map or image in your mind but which you can’t point at and which are not immediately accessible to you right now... or where you have no intention of going yourself right now.

But then again, I've seen a picture of a table and a lamp and the caption said "Siinä se on" as in "there is the lamp" instead of tuossa where tuossa in my opinion would make more sense. Can both words be just synonyms in such an example?

Before I over-think this through and perhaps answer my own question in this post, I better post it and see what some professionals say! :D[/quote]

[Rip]

As slight modification of the earlier, I'd say "tuossa" is used when you actually do point at the object or at least give a nod to the direction. "Siinä" is then used if you can't do that (when you then should have some point of reference (like 'siinä radion vieressä')) or it would be completely unnecessary and bit stupid thing to do as the location is immediately obvious (you turn around and see the object or person right in front of you (siinähän se/hän/sinä olet).

- and it would be reasonable to expect there is some situations when either one would seem roughly equally good.

[Jukka Aho]

As slight modification of the earlier, I'd say "tuossa" is used when you actually do point at the object or at least give a nod to the direction.

A mere glance or look could do as well.

— Missä sakset ovat?
— (a quick glance at the scissors on the table) Tuossa pöydällä.

[Krane]

As slight modification of the earlier, I'd say "tuossa" is used when you actually do point at the object or at least give a nod to the direction.

A mere glance or look could do as well.

— Missä sakset ovat?
— (a quick glance at the scissors on the table) Tuossa pöydällä.

Here's one for you; you could continue that:
— Siinähän se/ne on (in one's plain sight)

Why is that?
Ed. D'oh

would be completely unnecessary and bit stupid thing to do as the location is immediately obvious