Spanish · Time, Numbers & Colors

"Now" in Spanish: ahora

ahora

Say it: ah-OH-rahadverb/aˈoɾa/

Now in Spanish is ahora. Ahora mismo means right now. Desde ahora means from now on.

Leaving the house

Salgo ahora.
I'm leaving now.
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How to pronounce ahora

Say it

ah-OH-rah

/aˈoɾa/

ah-OH-rah. Stress OH. Three clear vowels. Silent h.

"Now" in Spanish: quick reference

SpanishEnglish
ahoranow

At this moment.

ahora mismoright now

Stronger urgency.

desde ahorafrom now on

A new rule or habit.

por ahorafor now

Temporary situation.

hasta ahorauntil now / so far

Up to this point.

How to use ahora in real life

  1. 1Leaving the house

    Salgo ahora.

    I'm leaving now.

    Ahora after the verb.

  2. 2Urgent favor

    Necesito ayuda ahora mismo.

    I need help right now.

    Ahora mismo adds urgency.

  3. 3New rule

    Desde ahora hablamos español.

    From now on we speak Spanish.

    Desde ahora starts a change.

Mistakes English speakers make with ahora

Incorrect: Ahora día no puedo.

Correct: Ahora no puedo.

Say ahora alone. Drop día.

Incorrect: El ahora es perfecto.

Correct: Ahora es perfecto.

Ahora needs no article.

Good to know

Shop staff may say ahora vengo when stepping away briefly. Ahora mismo can mean immediately or very soon.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Waiting for a friend

  1. ChatPal

    ¿Puedes venir ahora?

    Can you come now?

  2. You

    Ahora mismo salgo.

    I'm leaving right now.

  3. ChatPal

    Te espero en la puerta.

    I'll wait for you at the door.

  4. You

    Perfecto. Llego ahora.

    Perfect. I'll arrive now.

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"Now" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Now" in Spanish

How do you pronounce ahora?

ah-OH-rah. Stress OH. The h is silent in ahora.

What is ahora mismo?

Right now; stronger than ahora alone.

Ahora or ya?

Ya often means already. Ahora means now.

Does ahora change for gender?

No. Ahora stays the same.

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