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Adverbs of time

Now, then, yesterday, soon, always.

14 concepts

Columns follow the languages switched on at the top. Gender after the word (m/f/n); IPA beneath; notes, alternatives and origins underneath — nothing is hidden.

ConceptEnglishFrançaisEspañol
now
adverb
now
naʊ
maintenant
mɛ̃tnɑ̃
Literally 'main tenant' — hand-holding, i.e. at hand.
ahora
aˈoɾa
Ahorita (Mexico) = in a moment… or never.
then (next)
adverb
then
ðɛn
puis
pɥi
also: ensuite, alors (at that time / so)
luego
ˈlweɣo
also: entonces, después
yesterday
adverb
yesterday
ˈjɛstədeɪ
hier
jɛʁ
One syllable. Avant-hier = the day before yesterday.
ayer
aˈjeɾ
Anteayer = the day before yesterday.
today
adverb
today
təˈdeɪ
aujourd'hui
oʒuʁdɥi
Historically 'au jour d'hui' — 'on the day of today'; hui alone meant today (Latin hodie).
hoy
oi
Latin hodie → hoy. Same root as French hui.
tomorrow
adverb
tomorrow
təˈmɒɹəʊ
demain
dəmɛ̃
Après-demain = the day after tomorrow.
mañana
maˈɲana
Also 'morning' (la mañana). Pasado mañana = the day after tomorrow.
always
adverb
always
ˈɔːlweɪz
toujours
tuʒuʁ
Also 'still': il est toujours là.
siempre
ˈsjempɾe
never
adverb
never
ˈnɛvə
jamais
ʒamɛ
Needs ne: je ne sais jamais. Alone it can mean 'ever'.
nunca
ˈnuŋka
also: jamás
No … nunca when it follows the verb.
often
adverb
often
ˈɒfən
The t is usually silent.
souvent
suvɑ̃
a menudo
a meˈnuðo
also: con frecuencia, muchas veces
sometimes
adverb
sometimes
ˈsʌmtaɪmz
parfois
paʁfwa
also: quelquefois, des fois (informal)
a veces
a ˈβeθes
soon
adverb
soon
suːn
bientôt
bjɛ̃to
À bientôt = see you soon.
pronto
ˈpɾonto
Hasta pronto = see you soon.
already
adverb
already
ɔːlˈɹɛdi
déjà
deʒa
Déjà vu — 'already seen'.
ya
ja
Also 'now', 'right away', and a filler: ya, ya.
still / yet
adverb
still
stɪl
also: yet (in negatives/questions)
encore
ɑ̃kɔʁ
Also 'again' and 'more': encore un peu.
todavía
toðaˈβia
also: aún
early
adverb
early
ˈɜːli
tôt
to
temprano
temˈpɾano
late
adverb
late
leɪt
tard
taʁ
Final d silent. En retard = late (for something).
tarde
ˈtaɾðe
Also 'afternoon' (la tarde).