German · Time, Numbers & Colors
"Now" in German: jetzt
jetzt
Now in German is jetzt. For right this moment people also say gerade. From now on is ab jetzt. In commands, Jetzt! adds urgency.
Leaving
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How to pronounce jetzt
Say it
yetst
/jɛt͡st/
Yetst. J like English y. Short e. Clear tz as "ts". One syllable.
"Now" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| jetzt | now Default present-time adverb. | Default present-time adverb. |
| gerade | just now / currently Right at this moment. | Right at this moment. |
| ab jetzt | from now on Starting now. | Starting now. |
| bis jetzt | until now Up to this point. | Up to this point. |
How to use jetzt in real life
- 1Leaving
Ich gehe jetzt!
I'm going now!
Short and decisive.
- 2On the phone
Kannst du jetzt reden?
Can you talk now?
Availability check.
- 3New habit
Ab jetzt lerne ich jeden Tag.
From now on I'll learn every day.
Ab jetzt marks a starting point.
Mistakes English speakers make with jetzt
Incorrect: Jetzt ich komme.
Correct: Jetzt komme ich. / Ich komme jetzt.
Keep the verb in second position.
Incorrect: now bitte
Correct: jetzt bitte
Use jetzt inside German sentences.
Good to know
Jetzt and gerade overlap. Gerade often stresses that something is in progress: Ich esse gerade. Jetzt pushes the timing into focus: Komm jetzt!
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Rushing to catch a tram
ChatPal
Kommst du jetzt?
Are you coming now?
You
Ja, ich bin jetzt fertig!
Yes, I'm ready now!
ChatPal
Schnell, die Bahn kommt jetzt.
Quick, the tram is coming now.
You
Okay okay, ich renne jetzt!
Okay okay, I'm running now!
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Now" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Now" in German
What is the difference between jetzt and gerade?
Both mean now. Gerade often means currently or just; jetzt is the general now and stronger in commands.
How do you say from now on?
Ab jetzt.
How do you say until now?
Bis jetzt or bisher.
Can jetzt start a sentence?
Yes: Jetzt machen wir eine Pause. Verb comes second.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
