How exactly do you say now in Italian?
As you will see in this lesson, there is actually more than one way to translate this word, depending on the intended meaning and situation.
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By the end of this lesson, you’ll know everything you need to say now in Italian like a real pro. Let’s get started! Iniziamo!
How do you say now in Italian?
Adesso
Adesso is the most common way to say now in Italian.
Adesso
Now
For example, you could say…
Adesso vivi a Boston, giusto?
You live in Boston now, don’t you?
Ho fatto una colazione abbondante, quindi adesso non ho molta fame.
I had a huge breakfast, so I’m not really hungry now.
Al mattino il cielo era sereno, adesso è nuvoloso.
In the morning the sky was clear; now it’s cloudy.
Ora
Ora has two meanings in Italian. Depending on the context, it can be either a noun or an adverb.
- l’ora, the hour
- ora, meaning now, at this moment
Ora
Now
Ora non abbiamo tempo per questo.
We have no time for this now.
Ora abbiamo bisogno di un buon leader.
What we need now is a good leader.
Ora possiamo andare?
Can we go now?
Ora also translates time in the question che ora è? or che ore sono?, which means what time is it?.
Che ora è?
What time is it?
Literally: What hour is it?
Che ore sono?
What time is it?
Literally: What hours are they?
Mi sapresti dire che ore sono, per favore?
Could you tell me what time it is, please?
Adesso and ora are perfectly interchangeable when translating now into Italian, but you cannot use adesso to translate “the hour”.
You can also use or ora, or proprio ora, to emphasize that something is happening right now.
Or ora
Right now
Proprio ora
Right now, just now
Proprio ora is much more common than or ora, which is a more literary translation for right now in Italian.
Sono tornato proprio ora dal supermercato. Ti serviva qualcosa?
I just came back from the supermarket. Did you need anything?
Il treno sta arrivando proprio ora in stazione.
The train is just now arriving at the station.
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In questo momento/istante
You can also say right now in Italian with the expressions in questo momento or in questo istante, which translates as in this moment or in this instant. Momento and istante are both masculine nouns.
In questo momento
Right now, in this moment
In questo istante
Right now, in this instant
In questo momento sono impegnata, ma fra dieci minuti sono da te.
I am busy right now, but in ten minutes I’ll be at your place.
You can also use al momento, which means at the moment.
Al momento
At the moment
Non è a casa al momento.
He’s not at home at the moment.
Scusami, ma al momento ho molto da fare.
Sorry, but I’ve got a lot to do at the moment.
Subito
Subito is more commonly translated as at once! or now! when used as an exclamation (like a mother ordering her child to clean their room NOW).
It’s not used as a translation for now in Italian to mean “in the present time”.
Subito
Right now
Arrivo subito, dammi un minuto!
I’m coming right now, give me a minute!
Dobbiamo andarcene subito da qui.
We have to get out of here right now.
Immediatamente
Immediatamente is similar to subito because it’s used to say now in Italian only when you or someone else wants something done immediately. It’s still a useful word to know.
Immediatamente
Immediatamente
Il ladro è stato immediatamente catturato.
The thief was caught immediately.
Luca! Vieni qui immediatamente!
Luca! Come here immediately!
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Nowadays
Al giorno d’oggi
Nowadays
Literally: At today’s day
Al giorno d’oggi non è facile crescere un figlio.
Nowadays it is not easy to raise a child.
Oggigiorno
Nowadays
Literally: Todayday
Oggigiorno è difficile scegliere cosa comprare.
Nowadays it is difficult to choose what to buy.
Expressions with now in Italian
Let’s wrap up our lesson with a couple of expressions (espressioni, from the singular espressione) that feature the word for now in Italian.
D’ora in poi
From now on
Literally: From now in then
D’ora in poi farò il bravo, promesso!
I will be good from now on, I promise!
D’ora in avanti
From now on
Literally: From now in forward
D’ora in avanti, dovrai essere responsabile di quello che fai.
From now on, you must be responsible for what you do.
Finora
Until now, so far
Dove sei stato finora?
Where have you been so far?
Per ora
For now
Rimani in macchina, per ora.
Stay in the car for now.
And that’s the end of our lesson on how to say now in Italian!
What next?
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