вече / още

Already, Still and Yet

Level 2Sounds Like veče i oŝe

вече = already; още = still, or more. Вече ядох. (I have already eaten.) Още спи. (He is still asleep.)

How It Works

Вече

  • already: Вече ядох. (I have already eaten.)
  • yet, in a question: Готова ли си вече? (Are you ready yet?)
  • no longer, with не: Вече не пуша. (I don't smoke anymore.)
  • now, by now: Вече е късно. (It is late now.)

Още

  • still: Детето още спи. (The child is still asleep.)
  • not yet, with не: Още не е дошъл. (He hasn't come yet.)
  • more, another: Още едно кафе, моля. (One more coffee, please.) Искаш ли още? (Do you want more?)

"Yet" has two translations

In a question, "yet" is вече: Свърши ли вече? (Have you finished yet?) In a negative statement, "not yet" is още не: Още не съм свършил. (I haven't finished yet.)

Still and no longer

Все още is a stronger "still". The pair все още and вече не is covered in Still and No Longer.

Tenses

With вече and още не, Bulgarian often uses the past forms you already know: Вече ядох (simple past) or Вече съм ял (present perfect). See The Aorist (Simple Past) and The Present Perfect.

Examples (6)

  1. Вече ядох, благодаря.

    I have already eaten, thank you.

  2. Детето още спи.

    The child is still asleep.

  3. Още не е дошъл.

    He hasn't come yet.

    Още не means "not yet".

  4. Готова ли си вече?

    Are you ready yet?

    In a question, "yet" is вече.

  5. Още едно кафе, моля.

    One more coffee, please.

    Here още means "more" or "another".

  6. Вече не пуша.

    I don't smoke anymore.

    Вече не means "no longer".

Common Mistakes

  • Using още for "already".

    Още ядох.
    Вече ядох.

    Още means still or more. For something that has already happened, use вече.

  • Using вече не for "not yet".

    Той вече не е дошъл.
    Той още не е дошъл.

    Вече не means "no longer", which does not fit here. For something that has not happened yet, use още не.

  • Using вече for "more".

    Искаш ли вече кафе?
    Искаш ли още кафе?

    Искаш ли вече кафе? asks whether you are ready for coffee now, not whether you want more. To offer more of something, use още.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

вече / ощеLevel 2Already, Still and Yet

Learn This First

Already, still and yet build on negation with не.

Words in This Pattern

вече