now now

In South African English, “now now” means very soon, in a few minutes. It sounds like it should mean right this second, but it usually gives you a little wiggle room.

What now now means

“I’ll be there now now” means I’m on my way and won’t be long. Collins glosses now-now as right away or immediately, but in everyday use it often means soon rather than this instant.

It’s one of three famous South African time words. “Now” can mean sometime soon, “just now” means later (maybe much later), and “now now” is the most urgent of the three. South Africans like to joke about the difference, and visitors quickly learn to ask, “Is that now, or now now?”

Examples

• “I’m just finishing up, I’ll call you now now.”
• “Wait there, I’ll be back now now.”
• “Now now? Or just now? Because I’m starving.”

Where it came from

Collins lists now-now as an informal adverb meaning right away. Its everyday South African use, “soon, but not this second,” is best learned by waiting for someone who promised to arrive now now.

Related terms

• Just now: in a little while, South African style.
• Howzit: hello.
• Lekker: nice, great.
• OMW: on my way, in texting.

More South African words are in our South African slang guide.