South African English slang for 'in a little while' or 'very soon' — but with a catch: it usually means slightly later than 'now' but sooner than 'just now,' making it part of South Africa's famously fuzzy temporal spectrum.
South African English slang for 'in a little while' or 'very soon' — but with a catch: it usually means slightly later than 'now' but sooner than 'just now,' making it part of South Africa's famously fuzzy temporal spectrum. Locals know exactly what it means contextually, but newcomers often find themselves confused about whether anything will actually happen immediately. An essential piece of South African English vocabulary.
Don't stress, he said he's coming now-now — probably five minutes, maybe twenty.
Now-now means: South African English slang for 'in a little while' or 'very soon' - but with a catch: it usually means slightly later than 'now' but sooner than 'just now,' making it part of South Africa's. It is mainly South African English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
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South African slang for 'never,' 'no way,' or an emphatic expression of disbelief or refusal — widely used in informal South African English as a direct borrowing from Afrikaans. It functions both as a flat refusal ('nooit, I'm not doing that') and as a surprised exclamation ('nooit, you're kidding me'). The word is deeply embedded in South African township slang, Cape Flats dialect, and general informal speech, crossing racial and linguistic communities. Its short, punchy sound gives it expressive force.
At present; now.
(South Africa) never; no way.
(set phrase) Very close to the present moment; just a moment ago.
Now-now means: South African English slang for 'in a little while' or 'very soon' - but with a catch: it usually means slightly later than 'now' but sooner than 'just now,' making it part of South Africa's. It is mainly South African English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour.
now-now means: South African English slang for 'in a little while' or 'very soon' - but with a catch: it usually means slightly later than 'now' but sooner than 'just now,' making it part of. Register: very informal, slang. Suitable only for casual conversation, chat and social media. Do not use in business, academic or news writing. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
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(South Africa) right now; immediately; very soon.
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