"Ahora" vs. "Ahorita" vs. "Ahora Mismo"

Question

¿Qué piensan ustedes?

Answer 1

Ahora more or less means now, but the meaning varies with context in a way similar to now in English:

If you are talking about the evolution of the universe or the geology of the Earth, now might mean within 100 million years.

If you are talking about the weather, now might mean today, within the last hour, later on today, or right this minute. . .maybe even this week or this month, depending on context.

Sometimes it means right now.

"I'll do it now." usually means "I'll do it soon."

Ahorita means right now, but again the meaning of right now varies with context. It might mean a little while ago or soon, as well as right this second.

Ahora mismo is a more formal way to say ahorita. Just as in English, some people speak more formally when they are pissed--when your wife asks you do do something ahorita, it's best not to wait until she aks for it ahora mismo.

Answer 2

Hello, and welcome to the fourm!

"Ahora" vs. "Ahorita" vs. "Ahora Mismo"

In my experience:

Ahora = now

Ahorita = a little bit later

Ahora mismo = right this minute

¿Cuál canción? La una que cantamos ahorita. Which song? The one we just sang. - Jack-OBrien, Jul 24, 2010

Answer 3

Now, right now, right this minute. It's a matter of degree.

Welcome to the forum. There's a dictionary here that's pretty good. The automatic translators can give you a good start, but double check their answers.

You're saying "ahora mismo" is more, um, "now"-er than "ahorita"? - hseminati, Jul 23, 2010

Hmmm. They both mean very close to right now. I'd interpret "ahora mismo" as more now, though. Time can be very relative in many Spanish speaking cultures. Mañana doesn't necessarily mean tomorrow. It often means not today. - KevinB, Jul 23, 2010

I don't know. I simply feel the reverse is true. Oh well. Thank you! - hseminati, Jul 23, 2010

You could very well be right. A small now vs. a same now. I'll go with the majority on that. - KevinB, Jul 23, 2010

Answer 4

Like Kevin said, it's a matter of degrees. Ahorita is pretty much the same as ahora mismo. Something that 'just happened' can be referred to with 'ahorita', as in 'just this minute'. It may be my perception, but I think we use 'ahorita' in more casual conversations.

Hmmm. I never thought of "ahorita" as more casual. It makes sense, though. - hseminati, Jul 23, 2010

Answer 5

ahora means like "at this moment in time" and i use it to tell someone my location or my actions such as in english

"im outside at the moment"

"Im feeling sick right now"

estoy afuera ahora

Me siento muy enfermo ahora

im outside right now

but ahorita is like how in english we say 'right now' when it means As soon as possible or very soon or in a minute

Voy a el mercado ahorita

Im gonna go right now! Im gonna go very soon

COME RIGHT NOW JACOB

Ya ven paca ahorita!

see the difference its like how we say right now in english