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How to Say "right now" in Spanish

English → Spanish

ahora

/a-O-ra//aˈoɾa/

adverbA1general
Use 'ahora' when you want to indicate that something is happening at the present moment, often for emphasis or to specify the current time.
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 right 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.

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.

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/

adverbB1general
Use 'ya' when 'right now' functions as an imperative, signaling a demand for an action to stop or start immediately, often conveying impatience or finality.
A large, red exclamation mark glowing slightly, representing emphasis or urgency.

Examples

¡Basta ya!

Enough right now!

¡Cállate ya!

Be quiet now!

¡Ya, ya, entendí!

Okay, okay, I got it!

Confusing 'ahora' and 'ya'

Learners often use 'ahora' when they should use 'ya' for commands. Remember that 'ahora' generally refers to the current moment, while 'ya' in command contexts implies immediate action or cessation of action.

Related Translations

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