How to Say Now in Portuguese (Agora, Já and Já Já)

Now in Portuguese is agora, written without an accent and stressed on the first syllable: A-go-ra (sounds like "AH-go-rah"). That's the quick answer to how to say now in Portuguese, and it's a word you'll hear all the time in Brazil: "agora não posso", "agora sim", "e agora?".

The tricky part is everything around it. In English we stretch "now" to cover a lot: right now, in a sec, in a bit, just now. In Portuguese, each of those gets its own word. Here in Brazil we use já for right now, já já or daqui a pouco for "in a bit," and agorinha for something that just happened.

In this lesson I'll explain what agora means in Brazil, the real meaning of já já, and when to use each expression depending on the context. I'll also leave you a video and phrases in Portuguese to practice, so you stop translating word for word and start sounding like a local.

One English "Now," Several Words in Portuguese

In English, "now" (or "right now") can mean this very second, in a few minutes, or even "I'll get to it eventually." In Portuguese there isn't one single word that covers all of that, so here in Brazil we pick the expression based on what we actually mean:

• Já / agora mesmo: right now, right away.
• Já já / daqui a pouco: in a bit, in a sec, shortly.
• Agorinha: just now, a moment ago (and sometimes "right this second," depending on the context).
• Logo / em breve: soon, later on.

Video: Ways to Say NOW in Portuguese

In this video I show you, with real examples, how we say now in Portuguese depending on the context: what happens right away, what happens in a bit, and what just happened. Hit play and pay attention to the intonation, because in Brazil the tone changes everything.

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Phrases in Portuguese to Practice

These phrases in Portuguese show each expression inside a real Brazilian conversation. Read them out loud, swap the verbs, and build your own versions: that's how you lock in the difference between agora, já, and já já without memorizing rules.

Já - Agora - Right Now

Já and agora are used for things that need to happen this very instant, just like "right now" or "right away" in English. When someone in Brazil tells you "é pra já", they want it done immediately, no waiting.

• - E quando é que você quer que eu faça isso?
  - Isso é pra já! Agora mesmo.

26 Portuguese expressions to use at work.

And what if you want to say something happened in the blink of an eye? In Brazil we have way more creative options than just saying "rápido": check out 14 ways to say FAST in Portuguese that you won't find in the dictionary.

Já já (daqui a pouco) - In a Bit

Já já is the closest thing to "in a bit" or "in a sec" in Portuguese: something that's going to happen soon, just not this second. Its more neutral equivalent is daqui a pouco, which works just as well chatting with friends or at work.

• Fique atento porque já já eu tô passando aí pra te pegar.
• Agora eu tô ocupada, já já eu ligo pra você pra gente combinar os detalhes da reunião.

Different ways to use PEGAR.

Different ways to use LIGAR.

Other Options - In a Bit

To say "in a bit / in a moment" in a more formal way, you can use:

• Em um momento
• Em um instante
• Em breve
• Logo

Different ways to use LOGO

Other Options - Now

To say "Now" in a more formal way, you can use:

• Neste momento
• Agora mesmo
• Imediatamente
• Agorinha

6 ways to use MESMO in Portuguese.

Frequently Asked Questions About Now in Portuguese