току-що
Just Now with Току-що
Put току-що before a past verb to say something happened a moment ago: Току-що пристигнах (I've just arrived).
How It Works
1. Spelling. Write it with a hyphen: току-що.
2. With the aorist. The most common combination is with the aorist: Току-що пристигнах, Автобусът току-що тръгна (The bus has just left). English uses have just, but Bulgarian does not need the perfect here.
3. With the perfect. The perfect also works when the present result matters: Той току-що е излязъл (He has just gone out, so he isn't here).
4. Before another past event. With the pluperfect: Току-що бях заспал, когато телефонът звънна (I had just fallen asleep when the phone rang). With the imperfect it means just then: Селото току-що се събуждаше (The village was just waking up).
5. Before a participle. It can describe a noun through a participle: току-що изпечен хляб (freshly baked bread), току-що откъснати цветя (freshly picked flowers).
6. Not for the future. Току-що always looks back. For right away, use веднага: Веднага идвам (I'm coming right away). Compare тъкмо (just then, exactly) and вече (already).
Examples (6)
- Току-що пристигнах на гарата.
I've just arrived at the station.
- Филмът току-що започна.
The film has just started.
The aorist, where English uses has just.
- Току-що говорих с майка ти.
I just spoke with your mother.
- Той току-що е излязъл.
He has just gone out.
The perfect stresses the result: he is not here now.
- Току-що бях заспал, когато телефонът звънна.
I had just fallen asleep when the phone rang.
- Мирише на току-що изпечен хляб.
It smells of freshly baked bread.
Common Mistakes
Writing it without the hyphen.
Току що пристигнах.Току-що пристигнах.The standard spelling of this adverb is току-що, with a hyphen.
Using току-що for something about to happen.
Току-що ще ти се обадя.Веднага ще ти се обадя.The intended meaning is 'I'll call you right away'. Току-що only refers to something that has just happened, so use веднага for the future.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Току-що follows the aorist.
Related Patterns
- The Present Perfect
Used with току-що when the present result matters.
Level 2 - The Pluperfect
Току-що бях… for something just before another past event.
Level 3 - тъкмоJust Then and Exactly with Тъкмо
A close word meaning just then or exactly.
Level 4 - вече / ощеAlready, Still and Yet
Other time words for already and still.
Level 2 - The Past Passive Participle
Participles like изпечен that току-що can describe.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice току-що in Bubblegum
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