xa / aínda
Already and Still: Xa and Aínda
Xa means already or now: Xa comín (I have already eaten), Xa vou! (I'm coming!). Aínda means still or yet: Aínda non chegou (He has not arrived yet).
How It Works
Xa for something done: with the preterite, xa means already: Xa rematei (I have already finished). In a question it means yet: Xa comiches? (Have you eaten yet?). See the preterite for completed actions.
Xa for now or right away: Xa vou! (I'm coming!), Xa está (Done, that's it).
Aínda for something that continues: Aínda vives en Ourense? (Do you still live in Ourense?).
With non: aínda non means not yet: Aínda non chegou o autobús (The bus has not come yet). Xa non means no longer: Xa non vivo en Vigo (I no longer live in Vigo). As a short answer, Aínda non means Not yet.
Pronouns: xa and aínda put an object pronoun before the verb: Xa o sei (I already know), Aínda te quero (I still love you). See pronouns after certain adverbs.
Spelling: aínda has an accent on the í. Todavía is Spanish; use aínda.
Look-alikes: aínda que means although, and xa que means since or because.
Examples (6)
- Xa comín.
I have already eaten.
Word by Word: Already ate-I.
xa + preterite = already.
- Xa vou!
I'm coming!
Word by Word: Already go-I!
xa for something that happens right away.
- Aínda non chegou.
He has not arrived yet.
Word by Word: Still not arrived.
aínda non = not yet.
- Xa non vivo en Vigo.
I no longer live in Vigo.
Word by Word: Already not live-I in Vigo.
xa non = no longer.
- Aínda vives en Ourense?
Do you still live in Ourense?
Word by Word: Still live-you in Ourense?
- Xa o sei.
I already know.
Word by Word: Already it know-I.
xa puts the pronoun before the verb.
Common Mistakes
Using the Spanish word todavía.
Todavía non chegou.Aínda non chegou.Still and yet are aínda in Galician.
Putting the pronoun after the verb after xa.
Xa seino.Xa o sei.Xa pulls the unstressed pronoun in front of the verb.
Using xa non for not yet (intended meaning: I have not eaten yet).
Xa non comín.Aínda non comín.Not yet is aínda non. Xa non means no longer, so it cannot say that something has not happened yet.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Xa and aínda distinguish already, still, not yet and no longer.
Related Patterns
- Using the Preterite for Completed Actions
The preterite that xa and aínda non usually go with.
Level 2 - Pronouns Before the Verb After xa, tamén, sóPronouns Before the Verb After Certain Adverbs
Why pronouns go before the verb after xa and aínda.
Level 3 - aínda queAlthough and Even if: Aínda Que
A conjunction built on aínda that means although.
Level 4 - porque / xa que / comoGiving Reasons
Xa que gives a reason.
Level 3 - tamén / tampoucoToo and Neither
Other short adverbs that change the meaning of a sentence.
Level 2 - onte / hoxe / mañáTime Words
Other words that place events in time.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice xa / aínda in Bubblegum
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