International > South Africa

Now, just now and now now...

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Gansie:
Exactly! I never had to think about it before, but it's trickier than I thought to just give a quick definition.
I don't use "now now" either (except when I speak Afrikaans), but I have used "just now"  more than a few times.

Anyhoo, thanks for the input!  ;D :D ;)

Warra:
"Netnou" is a short while in the future.
"Nou net" is a short while in the past.
I've heard a lot of Namibians say "nou net" for the future. Weird.

EvilToast:
It's really got to do with context.

Eg. I'm now there (I'll be arriving any minute, usually used when your trying to make up for tardiness :D)
      She's coming now now (She'll be here a bit later, Could be +-30min or an hour or so. Depends on context.
                                             It could even mean in a few minutes - Probably the most confusing one)
      I'm going to pick you up just now (Later in the day eg. if it is said in the morning, it could be used to mean
                                                             sometime in the early afternoon, but not evening or night)
     
As a South African it's tricky to explain it, but we've used it so much we just know what they mean. Again, it's all context.

Gansie:

--- Quote ---As a South African it's tricky to explain it, but we've used it so much we just know what they mean. Again, it's all context.
--- End quote ---

Exactly. That's why I had a moment of confusion. When you try to explain it off the cuff, it gets trickier than you'd think!  ;) ;D

When someone uses it, you just now what they mean. I can't see how we don't get confused more often...  ;D

scorpiocandy:
My pronunciation of the words determines what I mean :)

I don't use "now now" because it's taken directly from afrikaans. Like when people say "make a turn" eeek. (Oddly enough "just now doesn't feel as wrong for me to say, go figure)

"Jus' now" means later. Sometime today but not right now.
"Just now" I use as Americans use it. A few moments ago. Around this time, within a few minutes or seconds. I don't use it this way often though.

Now is .. well ... now

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