What does "now" mean in Hebrew?
The everyday Hebrew word for "now" is עכשיו (akhshav). It is an adverb of time. It points to the moment of speaking: אני עסוק עכשיו (ani asuk akhshav), "I am busy now." Like every Hebrew adverb, it never changes its form. It has no gender, no number and no tense, and it can stand at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of a sentence.
English "now" can do several jobs, and Hebrew spreads them over several words. עכשיו is the neutral, all-purpose word, heard in the kitchen, the office and the news studio alike. Formal and written Hebrew also use כעת (ka'et, literally "as the time"), and literary and biblical Hebrew use עתה (ata). "At the moment, for the time being" is כרגע (karega), and "just now, a moment ago" is הרגע (ha-rega). This lesson teaches עכשיו and shows where the others take over.
The word is old but not biblical. According to the Academy of the Hebrew Language, its origin is not fully settled. The most widely accepted explanation, proposed by the scholar Ze'ev Ben-Ḥayyim, is that it is a contraction of the phrase עד כשהוא (ad kshe-hu, "until when it is"): the ד was swallowed, the ה dropped and the vowels shortened. Its first known appearance is in the Dead Sea Scrolls, and it is common in the Mishnah. The Bible's own word for "now" is עתה, which is why עתה still sounds solemn today.
A note on spelling. Without vowel points, the standard spelling is עכשיו, with a yod (י) before the final vav (ו). In pointed texts you will see both עַכְשָׁו (the dictionary form) and עַכְשָׁיו (the form in most printed editions of the Mishnah and in prayer books). The pronunciation is always the same: akh-SHAV. The yod is silent, and the final ו is pronounced v.
- עכשיו (akhshav) = "now," the everyday word in every register - It is an adverb and never changes form - Its position is flexible: עכשיו אני גר כאן / אני גר כאן עכשיו - מעכשיו (me-akhshav) = "from now on"; עד עכשיו (ad akhshav) = "until now, so far" - Formal: כעת (ka'et); literary and biblical: עתה (ata); "at the moment": כרגע (karega); "just now": הרגע (ha-rega) - Spelled עכשיו without points; the yod is silent; stress on the last syllable: akh-SHAV
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51.1a אני I עסוק busy עכשיו now
51.1b ani (a-NEE) I asuk (a-SOOK) busy-M.SG akhshav (akh-SHAV) now
51.2a בוא come עכשיו now
51.2b bo (BO) come-IMP.M.SG akhshav (akh-SHAV) now
51.3a עכשיו now תורך your-turn
51.3b akhshav (akh-SHAV) now torkha (tor-KHA) your-turn-M.SG
51.4a איפה where אתה you עכשיו now
51.4b eifo (EI-fo) where ata (a-TA) you-M.SG akhshav (akh-SHAV) now
51.5a לא not עכשיו now
51.5b lo (LO) not akhshav (akh-SHAV) now
51.6a עכשיו now אני I גר live בתל in-Tel אביב Aviv
51.6b akhshav (akh-SHAV) now ani (a-NEE) I gar (GAR) live-PRES.M.SG be-Tel (be-TEL) in-Tel Aviv (a-VEEV) Aviv
51.7a אין there-is-not לי to-me זמן time לדבר to-speak עכשיו now
51.7b ein (AYN) there-is-not li (LEE) to-me zman (ZMAN) time-M.SG ledaber (le-da-BER) to-speak-INF akhshav (akh-SHAV) now
51.8a הילדים the-children ישנים sleeping עכשיו now בחדר in-the-room שלהם their
51.8b ha-yeladim (ha-ye-la-DEEM) the-children-M.PL yeshenim (ye-she-NEEM) sleep-PRES.M.PL akhshav (akh-SHAV) now ba-kheder (ba-KHE-der) in-the-room shelahem (she-la-HEM) their-M.PL
51.9a עד until עכשיו now לא not קיבלתי I-received תשובה answer
51.9b ad (AD) until akhshav (akh-SHAV) now lo (LO) not kibalti (ki-BAL-tee) received-PAST.1SG tshuva (tshu-VA) answer-F.SG
51.10a מעכשיו from-now נדבר we-will-speak רק only עברית Hebrew
51.10b me-akhshav (me-akh-SHAV) from-now nedaber (ne-da-BER) speak-FUT.1PL rak (RAK) only ivrit (iv-REET) Hebrew
51.11a אם if תצא you-will-leave עכשיו now תגיע you-will-arrive לפני before החושך the-darkness
51.11b im (EEM) if tetse (te-TSE) leave-FUT.2M.SG akhshav (akh-SHAV) now tagi'a (ta-GEE-a) arrive-FUT.2M.SG lifnei (lif-NAY) before ha-khoshekh (ha-KHO-shekh) the-darkness-M.SG
51.12a קודם before גרנו we-lived בכפר in-the-village אבל but עכשיו now אנחנו we גרים live בעיר in-the-city
51.12b kodem (KO-dem) before garnu (GAR-nu) lived-PAST.1PL ba-kfar (ba-KFAR) in-the-village aval (a-VAL) but akhshav (akh-SHAV) now anakhnu (a-NAKH-nu) we garim (ga-REEM) live-PRES.M.PL ba-ir (ba-EER) in-the-city
51.13a היא she אמרה said שהיא that-she לא not יכולה able לבוא to-come עכשיו now אולי maybe מחר tomorrow
51.13b hi (HEE) she amra (am-RA) said-PAST.3F.SG she-hi (she-HEE) that-she lo (LO) not yekhola (ye-kho-LA) able-PRES.F.SG lavo (la-VO) to-come-INF akhshav (akh-SHAV) now ulai (u-LAI) maybe makhar (ma-KHAR) tomorrow
51.14a דווקא precisely עכשיו now כשהכול when-everything שקט quiet אפשר possible לחשוב to-think
51.14b davka (DAV-ka) precisely akhshav (akh-SHAV) now kshe-ha-kol (kshe-ha-KOL) when-everything shaket (SHA-ket) quiet-M.SG efshar (ef-SHAR) possible lakhshov (lakh-SHOV) to-think-INF
51.15a רק only עכשיו now הבנתי I-understood מה what אבא father שלי my ניסה tried להגיד to-say לי to-me
51.15b rak (RAK) only akhshav (akh-SHAV) now hevanti (he-VAN-tee) understood-PAST.1SG ma (MA) what aba (A-ba) father sheli (she-LEE) my nisa (ni-SA) tried-PAST.3M.SG lehagid (le-ha-GEED) to-say-INF li (LEE) to-me
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51.1 אני עסוק עכשיו — ani asuk akhshav — "I'm busy now."
51.2 בוא עכשיו — bo akhshav — "Come now."
51.3 עכשיו תורך — akhshav torkha — "Now it's your turn."
51.4 איפה אתה עכשיו? — eifo ata akhshav? — "Where are you now?"
51.5 לא עכשיו — lo akhshav — "Not now."
51.6 עכשיו אני גר בתל אביב — akhshav ani gar be-Tel Aviv — "Now I live in Tel Aviv."
51.7 אין לי זמן לדבר עכשיו — ein li zman ledaber akhshav — "I don't have time to talk now."
51.8 הילדים ישנים עכשיו בחדר שלהם — ha-yeladim yeshenim akhshav ba-kheder shelahem — "The children are asleep in their room now."
51.9 עד עכשיו לא קיבלתי תשובה — ad akhshav lo kibalti tshuva — "So far I haven't received an answer."
51.10 מעכשיו נדבר רק עברית — me-akhshav nedaber rak ivrit — "From now on we'll speak only Hebrew."
51.11 אם תצא עכשיו, תגיע לפני החושך — im tetse akhshav, tagi'a lifnei ha-khoshekh — "If you leave now, you'll get there before dark."
51.12 קודם גרנו בכפר, אבל עכשיו אנחנו גרים בעיר — kodem garnu ba-kfar, aval akhshav anakhnu garim ba-ir — "We used to live in the village, but now we live in the city."
51.13 היא אמרה שהיא לא יכולה לבוא עכשיו, אולי מחר — hi amra she-hi lo yekhola lavo akhshav, ulai makhar — "She said she can't come now; maybe tomorrow."
51.14 דווקא עכשיו, כשהכול שקט, אפשר לחשוב — davka akhshav, kshe-ha-kol shaket, efshar lakhshov — "Now of all times, when everything is quiet, you can think."
51.15 רק עכשיו הבנתי מה אבא שלי ניסה להגיד לי — rak akhshav hevanti ma aba sheli nisa lehagid li — "Only now have I understood what my father was trying to tell me."
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51.1 אני עסוק עכשיו
51.2 בוא עכשיו
51.3 עכשיו תורך
51.4 איפה אתה עכשיו?
51.5 לא עכשיו
51.6 עכשיו אני גר בתל אביב
51.7 אין לי זמן לדבר עכשיו
51.8 הילדים ישנים עכשיו בחדר שלהם
51.9 עד עכשיו לא קיבלתי תשובה
51.10 מעכשיו נדבר רק עברית
51.11 אם תצא עכשיו, תגיע לפני החושך
51.12 קודם גרנו בכפר, אבל עכשיו אנחנו גרים בעיר
51.13 היא אמרה שהיא לא יכולה לבוא עכשיו, אולי מחר
51.14 דווקא עכשיו, כשהכול שקט, אפשר לחשוב
51.15 רק עכשיו הבנתי מה אבא שלי ניסה להגיד לי
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1. What kind of word it is. עכשיו is a תואר פועל (to'ar po'al), an adverb, and specifically an adverb of time. It is indeclinable. The verb or adjective around it agrees with its own subject, never with עכשיו:
- אני עסוק עכשיו (ani asuk akhshav) — a man speaking (51.1) - אני עסוקה עכשיו (ani asuka akhshav) — a woman speaking
2. Position. Hebrew lets עכשיו move freely. Where you put it changes the emphasis, not the meaning:
- At the start, it sets the scene or marks a contrast: עכשיו אני גר בתל אביב (51.6); עכשיו תורך (51.3) - After the verb or predicate, it is neutral: הילדים ישנים עכשיו בחדר שלהם (51.8) - At the end, it carries the weight of the sentence: אין לי זמן לדבר עכשיו (51.7)
3. With tenses. Because Hebrew has one present form for "I live" and "I am living," עכשיו is often what tells you that the present is the present moment:
- Present: הילדים ישנים עכשיו — "the children are sleeping (right) now" (51.8) - Future and imperative: בוא עכשיו (51.2); אם תצא עכשיו, תגיע… (51.11). Here עכשיו means "straight away, at this moment." - Past: with רק ("only"), עכשיו marks a realisation that has just come: רק עכשיו הבנתי (51.15)
4. Prepositions and particles with עכשיו.
- מעכשיו (me-akhshav) — "from now on" (51.10). The preposition מ־ is written joined to the word. - עד עכשיו (ad akhshav) — "until now, so far" (51.9). Usually with a past verb, often negative. - רק עכשיו (rak akhshav) — "only now" (51.15) - כבר עכשיו (kvar akhshav) — "already now, even now" - דווקא עכשיו (davka akhshav) — "now of all times" (51.14). דווקא has no single English equivalent: it marks the choice as pointed or contrary. - עכשיו כש־ / עכשיו ש־ (akhshav kshe- / akhshav she-) — "now that": עכשיו כשאתה כאן, אפשר להתחיל (akhshav kshe-ata kan, efshar lehatkhil), "now that you're here, we can begin."
5. The other Hebrew words for "now." Each has its own register and meaning:
- עכשיו (akhshav) — everyday and neutral; correct everywhere - כעת (ka'et) — formal: news, announcements, official letters. כעת נעבור לחדשות הספורט (ka'et na'avor le-khadshot ha-sport), "we now turn to the sports news" - עתה (ata) — literary and biblical, common in the fixed opening ועתה (ve-ata), "and now." Its formal "from now on" is מעתה (me-ata) - כרגע (karega) — "at the moment, for the time being": כרגע אין מקום (karega ein makom), "there's no room at the moment" - הרגע (ha-rega) — "just now, a moment ago," with the past: הוא הרגע יצא (hu ha-rega yatsa), "he's just gone out"
6. A derived adjective. From עכשיו Hebrew builds עכשווי (akhshavi), "contemporary, current," as in אמנות עכשווית (omanut akhshavit), "contemporary art." The abstract noun is עכשוויות (akhshaviyut), "the here and now, topicality."
7. Doubling. In speech, עכשיו עכשיו ("now now") or ממש עכשיו (mamash akhshav, "really now") means "this very minute": אני צריך את זה עכשיו עכשיו, "I need it right this minute."
- Stressing the first syllable. Say akh-SHAV, not AKH-shav. - Writing עכשו in unpointed text. Without vowel points the standard spelling is עכשיו, with the yod. עַכְשָׁו appears only with full pointing, in dictionaries. - Confusing כרגע and הרגע. כרגע = "at the moment" (a state that continues); הרגע = "a moment ago" (a finished event). הוא כרגע בישיבה, "he's in a meeting at the moment"; הוא הרגע יצא מהישיבה, "he's just come out of the meeting." - Using עתה in conversation. It is correct Hebrew, but in a café it sounds like scripture. Use עכשיו. - Translating the discourse "now" of English. "Now, the problem is…" does not mark time. Hebrew says אז (az) or טוב (tov) here, or ובכן (u-vekhen) in formal speech: אז הבעיה היא… - Agreeing עכשיו with the subject. There is no עכשיווה or עכשיוים. The adverb never changes; only the related adjective עכשווי is inflected.
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עכשיו is among the commonest words of spoken Israeli Hebrew. It runs through every register: a child says לא עכשיו! ("not now!"), a commander says עכשיו!, and a newsreader moves between עכשיו and the more formal כעת. Written Hebrew prefers כעת in official prose, and עתה in solemn speeches and literary style, but עכשיו is never wrong.
Israeli speech is famously direct, and עכשיו carries much of that urgency. Doubled עכשיו עכשיו, or ממש עכשיו, means "this very minute." Paired with the imperative, it expresses the impatience of a crowded and fast-moving society. The opposite pole is the proverbial Israeli promise of רגע (rega, "one moment!") or יהיה בסדר (yihye be-seder, "it'll be fine"), and much everyday comedy lives in the space between the two.
The most famous Hebrew sentence containing עכשיו is Hillel's question in the Mishnah, ואם לא עכשיו, אימתי? ("And if not now, when?"), the citation for this lesson (Section F). It is quoted in Israeli schools, speeches and advertisements, and it has travelled far beyond Hebrew. Primo Levi took the title of his 1982 novel Se non ora, quando? ("If Not Now, When?") from it. In Hebrew public life עכשיו is a word of demand: the Israeli movement שלום עכשיו (Shalom Akhshav, "Peace Now"), founded in 1978, built its name on it.
The Hebrew Bible does not use עכשיו. Its "now" is עתה, very often in the form ועתה ("and now…"), which opens a new turn in a speech, a plea or a command. Modern Hebrew inherited both words and divided the labour: עתה for the elevated, עכשיו for daily life. A modern speaker who says ועתה sounds like a preacher or a politician on a podium.
- לא עכשיו (lo akhshav) — "not now" - עכשיו או לעולם לא (akhshav o le-olam lo) — "now or never" - מעכשיו והלאה (me-akhshav va-hal'a) — "from now on" - עד עכשיו (ad akhshav) — "until now, so far" - עכשיו תורך (akhshav torkha / torekh) — "now it's your turn" (to a man / to a woman)
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The citation is from the Mishnah, tractate Avot (Pirkei Avot, "The Chapters of the Fathers"), 1:14. The saying is attributed to Hillel the Elder, who taught in Jerusalem around the turn of the Common Era. It is one of the earliest attested uses of עכשיו, and the most famous. The text below follows the standard pointed edition (Torat Emet, as published on Sefaria), with its Mishnaic spelling עַכְשָׁיו.
F.1a הוּא he הָיָה was אוֹמֵר saying
F.1b hu (HOO) he haya (ha-YA) was-PAST.3M.SG omer (o-MER) say-PRES.M.SG
F.2a אִם if אֵין there-is-not אֲנִי I לִי for-me מִי who לִי for-me
F.2b im (EEM) if ein (AYN) there-is-not ani (a-NEE) I li (LEE) for-me mi (MEE) who li (LEE) for-me
F.3a וּכְשֶׁאֲנִי and-when-I לְעַצְמִי for-myself מָה what אֲנִי I
F.3b u-khshe-ani (u-khshe-a-NEE) and-when-I le-atsmi (le-ats-MEE) for-self-my ma (MA) what ani (a-NEE) I
F.4a וְאִם and-if לֹא not עַכְשָׁיו now אֵימָתָי when
F.4b ve-im (ve-EEM) and-if lo (LO) not akhshav (akh-SHAV) now eimatai (ei-ma-TAI) when-INTERROG
הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר, אִם אֵין אֲנִי לִי, מִי לִי. וּכְשֶׁאֲנִי לְעַצְמִי, מָה אֲנִי. וְאִם לֹא עַכְשָׁיו, אֵימָתָי.
hu haya omer, im ein ani li, mi li. u-khshe-ani le-atsmi, ma ani. ve-im lo akhshav, eimatai.
"He used to say: If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And when I am for myself alone, what am I? And if not now, when?"
— Mishnah, Avot 1:14, attributed to Hillel the Elder (translation: Latinum Institute, kept close to the Hebrew)
הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר, אִם אֵין אֲנִי לִי, מִי לִי. וּכְשֶׁאֲנִי לְעַצְמִי, מָה אֲנִי. וְאִם לֹא עַכְשָׁיו, אֵימָתָי.
The saying is built from three short questions, each of about four words. Only the last contains a verb of time, and that word is עַכְשָׁיו. The first two questions ask who and what; the third asks when, and answers itself: now.
Grammar notes:
- הָיָה אוֹמֵר (haya omer): the past of "to be" plus a present participle expresses a habit in the past, "he used to say." Modern Hebrew uses the same construction: הוא היה בא כל יום, "he used to come every day." - אִם אֵין אֲנִי לִי (im ein ani li): אֵין (ein, "there is not") is used here with a pronoun, a Mishnaic construction. Literally "if I am not for me." - וּכְשֶׁאֲנִי (u-khshe-ani): three prefixes and a pronoun in one written word: וּ (u-, "and") + כְּשֶׁ (kshe-, "when") + אֲנִי (ani, "I"). The conjunction ו is pronounced u here because the letter after it carries a sheva (the two dots under כְ). - לְעַצְמִי (le-atsmi): "for myself," from עֶצֶם (etsem, "bone, essence, self") with the suffix ־ִי (-i, "my"). Modern Hebrew uses the same word: לעצמי, "to myself." - עַכְשָׁיו (akhshav): the Mishnaic spelling with yod, identical to the modern unpointed spelling. - אֵימָתָי (eimatai): the Mishnaic word for "when?". Everyday Modern Hebrew says מתי (matai), its close relative without the first syllable. אימתי survives in formal and literary Hebrew.
Hillel's saying moves from the self, to the self's limits, to action. The first line defends looking after oneself, the second warns against selfishness, and the third removes the last excuse, delay. The rhythm is part of the teaching: two balanced questions about identity, then a question about time that cuts them short. In Hebrew the final four words, ואם לא עכשיו, אימתי, are quick to say and hard to forget, which is why they have outlived their context. A learner who knows them already knows where עכשיו sits in a Hebrew sentence and what weight it can carry.
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51.16a עכשיו now שבע seven וחצי and-half ונועה and-Noa עדיין still במיטה in-the-bed
51.16b akhshav (akh-SHAV) now sheva (SHE-va) seven-F va-khetsi (va-KHE-tsee) and-half ve-No'a (ve-NO-a) and-Noa adayin (a-DA-yin) still ba-mita (ba-mi-TA) in-the-bed-F.SG
51.17a קומי get-up עכשיו now צועקת shouts אמא mother מהמטבח from-the-kitchen
51.17b kumi (KU-mee) get-up-IMP.F.SG akhshav (akh-SHAV) now tso'eket (tso-E-ket) shout-PRES.F.SG ima (EE-ma) mother me-ha-mitbakh (me-ha-mit-BAKH) from-the-kitchen-M.SG
51.18a עכשיו now היא she קופצת jumps מהמיטה from-the-bed ורצה and-runs למקלחת to-the-shower
51.18b akhshav (akh-SHAV) now hi (HEE) she kofetset (ko-FE-tset) jump-PRES.F.SG me-ha-mita (me-ha-mi-TA) from-the-bed-F.SG ve-ratsa (ve-ra-TSA) and-run-PRES.F.SG la-miklakhat (la-mik-LA-khat) to-the-shower-F.SG
51.19a אין there-is-not זמן time לארוחת for-meal-of בוקר morning עכשיו now היא she לוקחת takes תפוח apple ויוצאת and-goes-out
51.19b ein (AYN) there-is-not zman (ZMAN) time le-arukhat (le-a-ru-KHAT) for-meal-CONSTR boker (BO-ker) morning akhshav (akh-SHAV) now hi (HEE) she lokakhat (lo-KA-khat) take-PRES.F.SG tapu'akh (ta-PU-akh) apple-M.SG ve-yotset (ve-yo-TSET) and-go-out-PRES.F.SG
51.20a האוטובוס the-bus כבר already בתחנה at-the-stop עכשיו now או or לעולם ever לא not
51.20b ha-otobus (ha-O-to-bus) the-bus-M.SG kvar (KVAR) already ba-takhana (ba-ta-kha-NA) at-the-stop-F.SG akhshav (akh-SHAV) now o (O) or le-olam (le-o-LAM) to-ever lo (LO) not
51.21a היא she רצה runs ועכשיו and-now הנהג the-driver פותח opens לה for-her את ACC הדלת the-door
51.21b hi (HEE) she ratsa (ra-TSA) run-PRES.F.SG ve-akhshav (ve-akh-SHAV) and-now ha-nahag (ha-na-HAG) the-driver-M.SG pote'akh (po-TE-akh) open-PRES.M.SG la (LA) for-her et (ET) ACC ha-delet (ha-DE-let) the-door-F.SG
51.22a באוטובוס on-the-bus היא she שולחת sends הודעה message לבוס to-the-boss אני I בדרך on-the-way אני I מגיעה arriving עכשיו now
51.22b ba-otobus (ba-O-to-bus) on-the-bus hi (HEE) she sholakhat (sho-LA-khat) send-PRES.F.SG hoda'a (ho-da-A) message-F.SG la-bos (la-BOS) to-the-boss ani (a-NEE) I ba-derekh (ba-DE-rekh) on-the-way ani (a-NEE) I magi'a (ma-gi-A) arrive-PRES.F.SG akhshav (akh-SHAV) now
51.23a הבוס the-boss עונה answers הישיבה the-meeting מתחילה begins עכשיו now איפה where את you
51.23b ha-bos (ha-BOS) the-boss one (o-NE) answer-PRES.M.SG ha-yeshiva (ha-ye-shi-VA) the-meeting-F.SG matkhila (mat-khi-LA) begin-PRES.F.SG akhshav (akh-SHAV) now eifo (EI-fo) where at (AT) you-F.SG
51.24a נועה Noa מסתכלת looks בשעון at-the-watch עכשיו now שמונה eight ועשרים and-twenty
51.24b No'a (NO-a) Noa mistakelet (mis-ta-KE-let) look-PRES.F.SG ba-sha'on (ba-sha-ON) at-the-watch-M.SG akhshav (akh-SHAV) now shmone (SHMO-ne) eight-F ve-esrim (ve-es-REEM) and-twenty
51.25a עכשיו now היא she יורדת gets-off מהאוטובוס from-the-bus ורצה and-runs ברחוב in-the-street
51.25b akhshav (akh-SHAV) now hi (HEE) she yoredet (yo-RE-det) get-off-PRES.F.SG me-ha-otobus (me-ha-O-to-bus) from-the-bus ve-ratsa (ve-ra-TSA) and-run-PRES.F.SG ba-rekhov (ba-re-KHOV) in-the-street-M.SG
51.26a בכניסה at-the-entrance השומר the-guard אומר says תפתחי open את ACC התיק the-bag עכשיו now בבקשה please
51.26b ba-knisa (ba-kni-SA) at-the-entrance-F.SG ha-shomer (ha-sho-MER) the-guard-M.SG omer (o-MER) say-PRES.M.SG tiftekhi (tif-te-KHEE) open-FUT.2F.SG et (ET) ACC ha-tik (ha-TEEK) the-bag-M.SG akhshav (akh-SHAV) now bevakasha (be-va-ka-SHA) please
51.27a עכשיו now סוף end סוף end היא she נכנסת enters לחדר to-room-of הישיבות the-meetings
51.27b akhshav (akh-SHAV) now sof (SOF) end sof (SOF) end hi (HEE) she nikhneset (nikh-NE-set) enter-PRES.F.SG le-khadar (le-kha-DAR) to-room-CONSTR ha-yeshivot (ha-ye-shi-VOT) the-meetings-F.PL
51.28a כולם everyone מסתכלים look עליה at-her והבוס and-the-boss אומר says טוב good עכשיו now אפשר possible להתחיל to-begin
51.28b kulam (ku-LAM) all-of-them mistaklim (mis-tak-LEEM) look-PRES.M.PL aleha (a-LE-ha) at-her ve-ha-bos (ve-ha-BOS) and-the-boss omer (o-MER) say-PRES.M.SG tov (TOV) good akhshav (akh-SHAV) now efshar (ef-SHAR) possible lehatkhil (le-hat-KHEEL) to-begin-INF
51.29a נועה Noa מתיישבת sits-down ונושמת and-breathes עד until עכשיו now היא she לא not הרגישה felt כמה how-much היא she רעבה hungry
51.29b No'a (NO-a) Noa mityashevet (mit-ya-SHE-vet) sit-down-PRES.F.SG ve-noshemet (ve-no-SHE-met) and-breathe-PRES.F.SG ad (AD) until akhshav (akh-SHAV) now hi (HEE) she lo (LO) not hirgisha (hir-gi-SHA) felt-PAST.3F.SG kama (KA-ma) how-much hi (HEE) she re'eva (re-e-VA) hungry-F.SG
51.30a היא she מוציאה takes-out את ACC התפוח the-apple מהתיק from-the-bag מעכשיו from-now היא she מבטיחה promises לעצמה to-herself ארוחת meal-of בוקר morning בבית at-home
51.30b hi (HEE) she motsi'a (mo-tsi-A) take-out-PRES.F.SG et (ET) ACC ha-tapu'akh (ha-ta-PU-akh) the-apple-M.SG me-ha-tik (me-ha-TEEK) from-the-bag me-akhshav (me-akh-SHAV) from-now hi (HEE) she mavtikha (mav-ti-KHA) promise-PRES.F.SG le-atsma (le-ats-MA) to-herself arukhat (a-ru-KHAT) meal-CONSTR boker (BO-ker) morning ba-bayit (ba-BA-yit) at-the-home
51.16 עכשיו שבע וחצי, ונועה עדיין במיטה — akhshav sheva va-khetsi, ve-No'a adayin ba-mita — "It's half past seven now, and Noa is still in bed."
51.17 "קומי עכשיו!" צועקת אמא מהמטבח — "kumi akhshav!" tso'eket ima me-ha-mitbakh — "'Get up now!' her mother shouts from the kitchen."
51.18 עכשיו היא קופצת מהמיטה ורצה למקלחת — akhshav hi kofetset me-ha-mita ve-ratsa la-miklakhat — "Now she jumps out of bed and runs to the shower."
51.19 אין זמן לארוחת בוקר עכשיו; היא לוקחת תפוח ויוצאת — ein zman le-arukhat boker akhshav; hi lokakhat tapu'akh ve-yotset — "There's no time for breakfast now; she grabs an apple and goes out."
51.20 האוטובוס כבר בתחנה. עכשיו או לעולם לא! — ha-otobus kvar ba-takhana. akhshav o le-olam lo! — "The bus is already at the stop. Now or never!"
51.21 היא רצה, ועכשיו הנהג פותח לה את הדלת — hi ratsa, ve-akhshav ha-nahag pote'akh la et ha-delet — "She runs, and now the driver opens the door for her."
51.22 באוטובוס היא שולחת הודעה לבוס: "אני בדרך, אני מגיעה עכשיו" — ba-otobus hi sholakhat hoda'a la-bos: "ani ba-derekh, ani magi'a akhshav" — "On the bus she texts her boss: 'I'm on my way, I'm coming right now.'"
51.23 הבוס עונה: "הישיבה מתחילה עכשיו. איפה את?" — ha-bos one: "ha-yeshiva matkhila akhshav. eifo at?" — "The boss replies: 'The meeting is starting now. Where are you?'"
51.24 נועה מסתכלת בשעון: עכשיו שמונה ועשרים — No'a mistakelet ba-sha'on: akhshav shmone ve-esrim — "Noa looks at her watch: it's twenty past eight now."
51.25 עכשיו היא יורדת מהאוטובוס ורצה ברחוב — akhshav hi yoredet me-ha-otobus ve-ratsa ba-rekhov — "Now she gets off the bus and runs down the street."
51.26 בכניסה השומר אומר: "תפתחי את התיק עכשיו, בבקשה" — ba-knisa ha-shomer omer: "tiftekhi et ha-tik akhshav, bevakasha" — "At the entrance the guard says: 'Open your bag now, please.'"
51.27 עכשיו, סוף סוף, היא נכנסת לחדר הישיבות — akhshav, sof sof, hi nikhneset le-khadar ha-yeshivot — "Now, at last, she walks into the meeting room."
51.28 כולם מסתכלים עליה, והבוס אומר: "טוב, עכשיו אפשר להתחיל" — kulam mistaklim aleha, ve-ha-bos omer: "tov, akhshav efshar lehatkhil" — "Everyone looks at her, and the boss says: 'Good, now we can begin.'"
51.29 נועה מתיישבת ונושמת. עד עכשיו היא לא הרגישה כמה היא רעבה — No'a mityashevet ve-noshemet. ad akhshav hi lo hirgisha kama hi re'eva — "Noa sits down and breathes. Until now she hadn't felt how hungry she was."
51.30 היא מוציאה את התפוח מהתיק: מעכשיו, היא מבטיחה לעצמה, ארוחת בוקר בבית — hi motsi'a et ha-tapu'akh me-ha-tik: me-akhshav, hi mavtikha le-atsma, arukhat boker ba-bayit — "She takes the apple out of her bag: from now on, she promises herself, breakfast at home."
51.16 עכשיו שבע וחצי, ונועה עדיין במיטה
51.17 "קומי עכשיו!" צועקת אמא מהמטבח
51.18 עכשיו היא קופצת מהמיטה ורצה למקלחת
51.19 אין זמן לארוחת בוקר עכשיו; היא לוקחת תפוח ויוצאת
51.20 האוטובוס כבר בתחנה. עכשיו או לעולם לא!
51.21 היא רצה, ועכשיו הנהג פותח לה את הדלת
51.22 באוטובוס היא שולחת הודעה לבוס: "אני בדרך, אני מגיעה עכשיו"
51.23 הבוס עונה: "הישיבה מתחילה עכשיו. איפה את?"
51.24 נועה מסתכלת בשעון: עכשיו שמונה ועשרים
51.25 עכשיו היא יורדת מהאוטובוס ורצה ברחוב
51.26 בכניסה השומר אומר: "תפתחי את התיק עכשיו, בבקשה"
51.27 עכשיו, סוף סוף, היא נכנסת לחדר הישיבות
51.28 כולם מסתכלים עליה, והבוס אומר: "טוב, עכשיו אפשר להתחיל"
51.29 נועה מתיישבת ונושמת. עד עכשיו היא לא הרגישה כמה היא רעבה
51.30 היא מוציאה את התפוח מהתיק: מעכשיו, היא מבטיחה לעצמה, ארוחת בוקר בבית
- The narrative present. The story is told in the present tense, as Hebrew action narrative and sports commentary often are. Each עכשיו moves the camera forward one step: 51.18, 51.21, 51.25, 51.27. A native writer would use it less often. Here it appears in every sentence so that the headword is practised. - Telling the time with עכשיו. Hebrew has no "it is" in the present: עכשיו שבע וחצי (51.16), literally "now seven and a half." The hours are feminine numbers (שבע, שמונה) because the word understood is שעה (sha'a, "hour"), which is feminine. - Verb before subject. In 51.17, "קומי עכשיו!" צועקת אמא, the verb comes before its subject after a quotation, as in English "shouts Mum." - Future for polite requests. תפתחי את התיק (51.26) is a future form used as a polite imperative: "(would you) open the bag." The true imperative פתחי (pitkhi) sounds sharper. - Present participle with future meaning. אני מגיעה עכשיו (51.22) literally says "I am arriving now," but Israelis use it to mean "I'm on my way, I'll be there shortly." The present tense of motion verbs often covers the near future. - עד עכשיו with the past. עד עכשיו היא לא הרגישה (51.29): Hebrew has no pluperfect, so the simple past covers English "she hadn't felt." - מעכשיו and לעצמה. In 51.30 the story closes on מעכשיו, "from now on," and לעצמה, "to herself." The same word, עצמ־ ("self"), appears in Hillel's לעצמי (Section F).
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- IPA: /aχˈʃav/ - ע (ayin): in standard Israeli Hebrew it is silent at the start of a word, and the word simply begins with the vowel a. Some speakers of Mizrahi background pronounce it as a throat sound /ʕ/, as in Arabic. - כ without a dot (khaf) = /χ/, the rough sound of Scottish loch or German Bach. With a dot, כּ is a plain k. - ש with the dot on the right (shin) = /ʃ/, English "sh." With the dot on the left, שׂ is s. - יו at the end: the yod is silent and the vav is /v/. The word ends in -av, never -ayu or -aiv. - Stress falls on the last syllable: akh-SHAV.
- מעכשיו (me-akhshav) /meaχˈʃav/: the prefix is unstressed - עכשווי (akhshavi) /aχʃaˈvi/: stress moves to the new final syllable - כעת (ka'et) /kaˈʔet/, with a light glottal catch or a smooth glide between the vowels; עתה (ata) /aˈta/; כרגע (karega) /kaˈʁe.ga/
- ח (ḥet) in חושך, מחר, חדר: pronounced /χ/ by most Israelis, like the khaf. Some speakers keep the older throat sound /ħ/. - ר (resh) in רצה, רחוב, ארוחת: a uvular /ʁ/, made at the back of the throat, close to French r. - צ (tsadi) in צועקת, תצא, מוציאה: /ts/, as in English cats, even at the start of a word. - א and ע between vowels in נועה (No'a), מגיעה (magi'a), שעון (sha'on): a light break between the vowels, marked ' in the transliteration.
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Course Index: [latinum.substack.com/p/index](https://latinum.substack.com/p/index)