עַכְשָׁו
'akhsháv
The English word "now" can be translated into Hebrew using several forms, most commonly עַכְשָׁו ('akhsháv). Wiktionary also lists עַתָּה (attá) and כָּעֵת (ka'ét).
Meaning: at the present time (adv)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| עַכְשָׁו | 'akhsháv |
| עַתָּה | attá |
| כָּעֵת | ka'ét |
All provided forms express the concept of being at the present time.
Which one should you use?
כָּעֵת specifically carries the sense of "at this time" or "currently".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
עַכְשָׁיו is a common informal term used in everyday conversations. In contrast, כָּעֵת is a formal register used primarily in literature, news reporting or official documents.
How do you pronounce it?
'akhsháv
Did you know?
- In slang, if someone says עכשיו?! with a rising intonation, they are often expressing disbelief or protesting a sudden change in plans rather than asking about the time.
- The word כָּעֵת is a contraction of two words: the prefix כְּ meaning 'as' and עֵת meaning 'time'.
- In many modern contexts, Israelis may omit the word for 'now' entirely and use the present tense verb to convey the same sense of immediacy.
Examples in context
- בוא נלך לסופר עַכְשָׁיו.Let's go to the supermarket now.
- עַכְשָׁיו אני מוכן להתחיל.I'm ready to start now.
- מה את עושה עַכְשָׁו?ma at osa akhshav?What are you doing now?
- הוא לא פנוי עַכְשָׁו.hu lo panuy akhshav.He is not available now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “now” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
