anois
/əˈn̪ˠɪʃ/
The English word "now" is translated into Irish as anois. Wiktionary also lists adrásta.
Meaning: at the present time (adv)
Ways to say it
| Irish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| anois | /əˈn̪ˠɪʃ/ (Munster) /əˈnʲiʃ/ (Connacht) |
|
| adrásta | literary |
anois is the most standard and widely used term for "now" in the Irish language. It is used to indicate that something is happening at the present time.
Which one should you use?
While anois is the standard term used in everyday speech, adrásta is a literary form used primarily in poetry or formal writing.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more formal sense of "at present," you might use the phrase faoi láthair. The form adrásta is reserved for literary contexts.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase anois agus can be used as a conjunction meaning "since" or "because."
How do you pronounce it?
/əˈn̪ˠɪʃ/
Did you know?
- Using adrásta in a casual conversation would be equivalent to using 'henceforth' or 'betwixt' in modern English. It is almost exclusively found in poetry and high literature.
- The word anois is a direct relative of the Scottish Gaelic a-nis and the Manx nish, showing a shared genetic link between these three Goidelic languages.
- The poetic term adrásta is actually a derivative of the general word for 'time', tráth, rather than being a distinct adverb like anois.
Examples in context
- Ná bac leis sin anois!Don't bother with that now!This example shows how to use anois in a negative command.Tatoeba #3785868 by Barra, translation #5152677 by kemushi69
- Rachaidh mé amach anois.I will go out now.This example demonstrates the use of anois with a future tense verb.Tatoeba #10926155 by janTuki, translation #11841369 by Tatoebauser
- Tá an músaem dúnta anois.The museum is closed now.This example shows anois used to describe a current state.Tatoeba #10926463 by janTuki, translation #44492 by CK
- Tá sé ag cur báistí anois.It's raining now.
- Táim ag obair faoi láthair.I am working right now.
- Tá a lán daoine ag teacht inniu.A lot of people are coming now/today.
- 16 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Siobhán and Cian are deciding when to start dinner.
- SiobhánAn bhfuil tú réidh le cogar anois?Are you ready to cook now?
- CianNíl mé réidh go fóirI'm not ready just yet.
- SiobhánAch tá an t-uisce ag fiuchail anois.But the water is boiling now.
- CianCeart go leor, tabhair mé cúis.Alright, I'm coming.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “now” translations and entries anois, adrásta, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries adrásta, anois, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
