ahora
Lemma Details
Translation: now; at present; at this time; currently
Part of Speech: adverb
Etymology: Derived from Latin 'hac hora' meaning 'at this hour'. The Latin 'hora' (hour) is related to English 'hour', both coming from Proto-Indo-European *yeh₁- (year, season). The transformation from 'hac hora' to 'ahora' shows typical Spanish phonological development where the initial 'h' was dropped and the final vowel was added for easier pronunciation.
Commonality: 95%
Guessability: 20%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Ahora entiendo el problema.
Now I understand the problem.
¿Qué hacemos ahora?
What do we do now?
Hasta ahora todo va bien.
So far everything is going well.
Ahora bien, debemos considerar las consecuencias.
Now then, we must consider the consequences.
Voy a hacerlo ahora mismo.
I'm going to do it right now.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'a hour-a' to remember it means 'now' (at this hour).
- The 'ora' part sounds like 'hour' which helps connect to its meaning of the present time.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
In Latin American Spanish, particularly in Mexico and Central America, the diminutive form 'ahorita' is very common and can paradoxically mean either 'right this instant' or 'in a little while', depending on context and tone. This ambiguity can be confusing for learners.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Ahora' means 'now' while 'hora' means 'hour' or 'time'. They are etymologically related but have different meanings and uses.
This word:
Ahora no puedo hablar.
I can't talk now.
Confused word:
¿Qué hora es?
What time is it?
Notes: The connection between these words makes sense when you consider that 'ahora' originally meant 'at this hour'.
Mnemonic: 'Ahora' has an extra 'a' at the beginning - think of it as 'at hour' = now.
Explanation: While both can translate to 'now', 'ya' often implies 'already' or 'right away' and can have a sense of immediacy or completion that 'ahora' doesn't always carry.
Confused word:
Ya terminé mi tarea.
I have already finished my homework.
Notes: 'Ya' is often used in commands for emphasis: '¡Hazlo ya!' (Do it now/right away!)
Mnemonic: Think of 'ya' as 'yes, already' - it's shorter and more immediate than 'ahora'.