Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| jetzt | /jɛtst/ /jɛts/ |
| nun | /nuːn/ |
| gerade | /ɡəˈraːdə/ (standard) /ˈɡra(ː)d(ə)/ |
These words are used to express the present time. jetzt is the most common and versatile way to say "now" in both written and spoken German. gerade is used to indicate the precise moment of "now," especially when referring to a specific action occurring at this very instant. For added emphasis on the immediate present, you can use jetzt gerade. If you want to express a sense of urgency similar to "right this instant," use the informal phrase jetzt sofort. In a relaxed, informal context, jetzt gleich can be used to mean "right now" or "in a second."
Which one should you use?
While jetzt refers to the present time in a general sense, gerade emphasizes that an action is happening at this very instant. nun is often more formal or literary than jetzt and is frequently used in written German as a logical connector to mean "now that" or "therefore."
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Related to these temporal adverbs are the conjunctions nun da, nun wo and jetzt wo, which mean "since" or "because". The adjective jetzig can be used to mean "present" or "current."
How do you pronounce it?
/jɛtst/
Did you know?
- If you use gerade to mean 'just now', you are using a word that is etymologically linked to the root for 'wheel'.
- The word gerade is a versatile term that also means 'straight' when describing a line.
- Using jetzt gleich to mean 'right now' can be confusing because gleich actually means 'equal' or 'soon'.
Examples in context
- Wo lebst du nun?Where are you living now?This sentence shows how to use nun to ask about a current state.Tatoeba #1038050 by Esperantostern, translation #1008820 by AOCinJAPAN
- Es ist jetzt da.It's there now.This sentence demonstrates the use of jetzt to indicate something is currently present.Tatoeba #2533023 by brauchinet, translation #2249314 by CK
- Wo ist er jetzt?Where is he now?This sentence uses jetzt to ask about a current location or status.Tatoeba #4553231 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2483402 by Hybrid
- Wir müssen jetzt gehen.We have to go now.
- Ich rufe gerade den Kundendienst an.I'm calling customer service right now.
- Das Problem muss jetzt gerade behoben werden.The problem needs to be solved right now.
- Ich bin jetzt gleich fertig.I'll be ready in a second.
- Hör jetzt sofort auf damit!Stop it right this instant!
- Nun ist es soweit.Now the time has come.
- Sie liest jetzt ein BuchShe is reading a book now
- Jetzt liest sie ein BuchNow she is reading a book
- jetztiger MomentCurrent moment
- Ich bin jetzt zu Hause.I am home now.
- Lass uns jetzt gehen!Let's go now!
- 5587 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Felix are planning their afternoon.
- JuliaHast du jetzt Zeit?Do you have time now?
- FelixJa, ich habe jetzt Zeit.Yes, I have time now.
- JuliaWollen wir jetzt spazieren gehen?Do we want to go for a walk now?
- FelixDas ist eine gute Idee.That is a good idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “now” translations and entries jetzt, nun, gerade, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gerade, jetzt, nun, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
