Recently I learnt the Russian word вместо [ˈvmʲestə], which means instead of or in place of. It is very similar to вместе [ˈvmʲesʲtʲe], which means together or along with. This got me wondering whether these words come from the same root.

вместо comes from в (in) место (place) [source].

вместе comes from въ мѣстѣ, from въ мѣстѣхъ, from мѣсто (place; field; square; settlement) [source].

So it seems that they are related, if I’ve understood the etymologies correctly.

Here are some examples and related words include:

– Ну… вы собрали вместе интересных подчиненных. = Well, it’s an interesting group of employees you’ve put together here.
– пошли в театр вместо концерта = let’s go to the theatre instead of the concert
– вместо того чтобы критиковать, постарайтесь понять. = try and understand instead of just criticizing.
– Тогда, по крайней мере, мы могли бы быть вместе вместо того, что имеем. = Then at least we could be together instead of whatever this is.
– вместе с тем = at the same time
– вместить = to hold, to accommodate, to fit sth/sb in
– вместиться = to fit in
– вместительный = spacious

There seem to be different ways to say here in Russian. In some contexts you use тут (tut), and in others здесь (zdyes’), or another word. I’m not sure when to use each one, so I thought I’d investigate.

Тут means here, then, at this point, and other things in some phrases [source]. For example:

• У нас тут задержан подходящий подозреваемый
  = Look, we’ve got a pretty good suspect in holding here
• Кстати, я работаю тут консультантом
  = Erm, I’m a consultant here, by the way
• Поищу каких-нибудь заработков тут и там
  = I’ll try to pick up some odd jobs here and there

Тут comes from Old East Slavic тутъ (tutŭ – here; thereto; herewith), from ту (tu – there; thereto; then; here, herewith), from Proto-Slavic *tuto/*tu (there, here) [source].

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Здесь means here or therein [source]. For example:

• Мы можем провести больше времени здесь = I don’t know, we could spend more time here.
• Так, подпишите здесь = Okay, sign here
• Нам нужно зайти здесь = We need to go in here

Здесь comes from the Proto-Slavic *sьde (here, in this place) [source].

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Сюда means here or therein [source]. For example:

• (и) туда и сюда = both here and there
• то туда, то сюда = sometimes here, sometimes there
• ни туда ни сюда neither here nor there
• туда-сюда = backwards and forwards, everywhere, all over the place
• иди сюда! = come here!

Сюда comes from the Proto-Slavic *sǫda [source].

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Отсюда means from here, hence [source]. For example:

• После приёма я увезу тебя отсюда
  = After the party, I will get you out of here
• Я выследил логово русских недалеко отсюда
  = I tracked the Russians to a warehouse not far from here
• Я потерял их запах недалеко отсюда
  = Now, I lost their scent not too far from here.

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Вот means here (is) [source]. For example:

• вот моя мама = here is my mother
• вот мои дети = here are my children
• вот он идёт = here he comes

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According to Reverso, здесь refers to location, сюда refers to destination, отсюда refers to departure point (from here), and тут means at this point or in the past.

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Do other languages have several ways to express the idea of here?