Inklingo

How to Say "now" in Spanish

English → Spanish

ahora

/a-O-ra//aˈoɾa/

AdverbA1General
Use 'ahora' to refer to the current moment or the present time, similar to 'right now'. It can also introduce a new point or consequence, acting like 'well' or 'however'.
A simple clock face with its hands pointing to the current time, with a soft glow on the second hand to emphasize this exact moment.

Examples

¿Qué estás haciendo ahora?

What are you doing now?

Ahora no puedo hablar, estoy en una reunión.

I can't talk right now, I'm in a meeting.

Vivimos en Madrid ahora.

We live in Madrid now.

Tu ensayo es excelente. Ahora, tienes que revisar la ortografía.

Your essay is excellent. However, you have to check the spelling.

Where to Put 'Ahora'

You can usually put "ahora" at the beginning or end of your sentence, and it sounds natural either way. For example, 'Ahora voy al mercado' and 'Voy al mercado ahora' both work perfectly.

Connecting Contrasting Ideas

This version of "ahora" works like a bridge to connect two thoughts. The first thought is usually positive or neutral, and "ahora" introduces a challenge, problem, or different angle.

Mixing up 'Ahora' and 'Ahorita'

Mistake: “Using 'ahora' when you mean the slightly more flexible 'ahorita'.”

Correction: 'Ahora' is pretty standard for 'now'. 'Ahorita' is common in Latin America and can mean 'right now' or 'in a little bit', depending on the country and context. When in doubt, 'ahora' is always a safe choice.

ya

/yah//'ʝa/

AdverbA1General
Use 'ya' to indicate that something has already happened or is happening at this moment, often implying completion or immediacy, like 'already' or 'now'.
A runner who has just crossed the finish line, illustrating the concept of 'already' done.

Examples

¿Ya comiste?

Did you eat already?

El tren ya salió.

The train already left.

Ya entiendo.

I understand now.

'Ya' with Past vs. Present

With past actions (like 'comí'), 'ya' means 'already'. With present actions (like 'entiendo'), it often means 'now'.

aqui

/ah-KEE//aˈki/

AdverbB1General
Use 'aquí' (though sometimes colloquially 'aqui') when 'now' refers to a specific point in time or a situation, functioning more like 'at this point' or 'here'.
A winding, green grassy path representing a timeline or process, with a large, stylized finger pointing down emphatically at a specific, brightly lit stone marker placed exactly in the center of the path.

Examples

Y es aquí donde la historia se pone interesante.

And it's at this point that the story gets interesting.

Hasta aquí, todo claro.

Up to this point, everything is clear.

De aquí a un mes, me mudo de casa.

A month from now, I'm moving.

Choosing between 'ahora' and 'ya'

Learners often confuse 'ahora' and 'ya'. Remember that 'ahora' generally means 'now' in the sense of 'the present moment' or 'right now', while 'ya' often implies 'already' or 'by now', suggesting something has occurred or is occurring with a sense of completion or expectation fulfilled.

Related Translations

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