Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| अब | ab | |
| अधुना | adhunā | /ə.d̪ʱʊ.nɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) |
| अभी | abhī | /ə.bʱiː/ (Hindi, Standard) |
These terms are used to refer to the present time. The form अब is often used to indicate a change in a state or situation, marking a transition from a previous condition to a new one.
Which one should you use?
While अब refers to the present time or a new state, अभी is used to emphasize immediacy, meaning "right now" or "at this very moment". अधुना is a rare and highly formal version of the word.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
अभी is the most common and standard way to say "now" in daily conversation. अब is versatile and is used in both formal and informal settings, though it can add a touch of formality depending on the context. For highly formal or literary contexts, अधुना may be used, though it is rarely heard in spoken Hindi. If you need a formal phrase that translates to "this time," you can use इसी समय.
How do you pronounce it?
ab
Did you know?
- While अभी means 'right now', adding a specific time duration after it can paradoxically mean 'just a moment ago' in certain contexts.
- The word अब shares an ancient ancestor with the Bengali word এবে (ebe), reflecting their shared roots in the Prakrit and Sanskrit languages.
- In spoken Hindi, using अधुना instead of अभी would sound as out of place as using 'henceforth' or 'betwixt' in a casual English conversation.
Examples in context
- अब क्या बचा है?What's left now?This sentence uses अब to ask about what remains in the present.Tatoeba #12403586 by Saumya, translation #12403584 by Aghanim
- सामी अब मुसलमान है।Sami is Muslim now.This sentence uses अब to describe a current state.Tatoeba #10270792 by simranbansal, translation #7306887 by OsoHombre
- अब मैं सब समझता हूं।Now I understand everything.This sentence uses अब to indicate a transition in understanding.Tatoeba #11370693 by Sorcien, translation #5182617 by CK
- अभी कृपया शांत रहें। (Abhi kripaya shaant rahen.)Please be quiet now.
- आप अब शुरू कर सकते हैं। (Aap ab shuru kar sakte hain.)You can start now.
- अभी चलते हैं। (Abhi chalte hain.)Let's go now.
- 141 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A man and a woman are deciding when to leave the house.
- नेहा Nehaक्या हम अब चलें?Kya hum ab chalein?Shall we go now?
- अमित Amitहाँ, अब निकलना ठीक रहेगा।Haan, ab nikalna theek rahega.Yes, it will be fine to leave now.
- नेहा Nehaक्या अमित तैयार है?Kya Amit taiyaar hai?Is Amit ready?
- अमित Amitहाँ, वह अब तैयार है।Haan, vah ab taiyaar hai.Yes, he is ready now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “now” translations and entries अब, अधुना, अभी, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries अधुना, अब, अभी, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
