Hindi · Time, Numbers & Colors

"Now" in Hindi: अभी

अभीabhi

Say it: ub-HEEadverb/əbʱiː/

Note: also: अब (ab)

अभी (abhi) means now or just now. अब (ab) also means now and often marks a change: ab samajh gaya. Abhi nahi means not right now. For right this second, abhi feels sharper.

Leaving immediately

मैं अभी निकल रहा हूँ।

main abhi nikal raha hoon.

I'm leaving now.
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How to pronounce अभी

Say it

ub-HEE

/əbʱiː/

Abhi is ub-HEE with a short first a and a clear long ee. Ab is a short soft ab. Keep abhi bright; do not swallow the hee.

"Now" in Hindi: quick reference

HindiEnglish
अभीabhinow; just now

Immediate now and very recent past.

अबabnow

Now as a turning point or current state.

अभी नहींabhi nahinnot now

A soft delay without a full no forever.

अभी अभीabhi abhijust now

Something that happened moments ago.

How to use अभी in real life

  1. 1Leaving immediately

    मैं अभी निकल रहा हूँ।

    main abhi nikal raha hoon.

    I'm leaving now.

    A woman says nikal rahi hoon.

  2. 2Asking someone to wait

    अभी बैठो, मैं रहा हूँ।

    abhi baitho, main aa raha hoon.

    Sit for now; I'm coming.

    Abhi can mean for the moment.

  3. 3Recent action

    वह अभी अभी गया।

    vah abhi abhi gaya.

    He left just now.

    Abhi abhi marks a moment ago.

Mistakes English speakers make with अभी

Incorrect: Using abhi for a vague someday

Correct: Abhi for near now; baad mein for later

Abhi is near. For later say baad mein or thodi der baad.

Incorrect: Abhi nahi as a hard forever no

Correct: Clarify if you mean later

Abhi nahi often means not this moment. Add kab if you have a time.

Good to know

Abhi aata hoon can mean soon rather than this exact second. Listen for follow-up timing. In shops, abhi means the vendor will handle you next.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

A friend wants to leave a party early

  1. ChatPal

    क्या तुम अभी जा रहे हो?

    kya tum abhi jaa rahe ho?

    Are you going now?

  2. You

    हाँ, मुझे अभी घर पहुँचना है।

    haan, mujhe abhi ghar pahunchna hai.

    Yes, I need to reach home now.

  3. ChatPal

    थोड़ी देर और रुको, अभी गाना आएगा।

    thodi der aur ruko, abhi gaana aayega.

    Wait a bit more; a song is coming now.

  4. You

    अभी नहीं रुक सकता, माफ़ करो।

    abhi nahin ruk sakta, maaf karo.

    I can't stay now, sorry.

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"Now" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Now" in Hindi

Abhi or ab?

Both mean now. Abhi feels immediate; ab often marks a change of state.

What does abhi abhi mean?

Just now, moments ago.

How do I say not now?

Say abhi nahin.

Does abhi always mean this second?

Often soon. Ask for a clock time if you need precision.

Learn a word, then use it out loud

  1. Step 1: See it in context
  2. Step 2: Say it out loud
  3. Step 3: Get feedback
  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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