Have you ever found yourself when you are talking to someone from South Africa, and they say something like: “I will be there ‘now now.” The problem is that it is not clear exactly when this person is going to arrive. Will they show up in five minutes? Or will they be there sometime later on today? We have asked many people what the meaning of ‘now now’ really means, and their answers vary. One person told me that if someone says this, then they could arrive at any moment or even tomorrow! That would definitely not be ideal if you were expecting them right away! Another individual said that if someone uses this term, then it means they will do it soon but not immediately. In other words, don’t expect an immediate answer or response because nothing happens immediately in South Africa (or anywhere else).
If a South African says they are coming ‘now now’, don’t expect them to arrive immediately. You will have to wait. The time you need to wait can vary depending on the person you are talking to. But with work and school, people use the term ‘now now’ to show that they are going to complete something but not right this second. That is why you have a deadline or due time for an assignment.
The South African word ‘now now’ can be applied to any situation, but it is most common when talking about a person coming to your house or place of work. If someone says they are coming ‘now now’, don’t expect them to arrive immediately. You will have to wait. The time you need to wait can vary greatly depending on the person you are talking to. But with work and school, people use the term ‘now now’ to show that they are going to complete something but not right this second.
When someone says they will be there “now now,” it usually means that they will arrive in an hour (though this could be 30 minutes or four hours). Based on what your schedule looks like and how busy your day has been so far, you might even want them there sooner than later!
Conclusion
To conclude, ‘now now’ is an important word to know when you are talking to South Africans. They use it a lot and it can confuse at first if you don’t understand the context of what they are saying. But if you want people to understand that they need more time or want them not to worry about something right away then this word will come in handy!
