sada / već / još

Now Already and Still

Level 1

Sada means now. Već often means already, while još can mean still or more depending on the construction.

How It Works

In Već sam ovdje., the speaker has already arrived at the relevant place. In Još sam ovdje., the speaker remains there. The short word changes the relation to the expected timeline.

Još nije gotovo. means it is not finished yet. The negation is part of the complete expression, so translating još alone as still can give an awkward English meaning.

Još also adds an amount: Još jednu kavu, molim. asks for another coffee. Decide whether the word modifies time, continuation or quantity from the sentence around it.

Examples (5)

  1. Sada radim.

    I am working now.

    Sada gives the current reference point.

  2. Već sam ovdje.

    I am already here.

    Već presents the state as already reached.

  3. Još sam ovdje.

    I am still here.

    Još presents the state as continuing.

  4. Još nije gotovo.

    It is not finished yet.

    Još with a negative predicate gives a not-yet reading.

  5. Još jednu kavu, molim.

    Another coffee, please.

    Još adds an item rather than describing duration.

Words in This Pattern

sada