jau / vēl
Already and Still
Jau = already: Es jau zinu (I already know). Vēl = still, or more: Viņš vēl guļ (He is still sleeping), vēl viena kafija (one more coffee).
How It Works
1. Jau: already. Use jau when something has happened or begun, often earlier than expected.
- Es jau zinu. (I already know.)
- Ir jau vēls. (It is already late.)
- Es jau trīs gadus dzīvoju Rīgā. (I have been living in Riga for three years now.) The present tense and a length of time in the accusative show something that started in the past and is still going on.
2. Jau in questions: yet. English says yet in questions, and Latvian uses jau: Vai tu jau paēdi? (Have you eaten yet?), Vai vilciens jau ir klāt? (Is the train here yet?)
3. Vēl: still. Vēl says that something is continuing: Viņš vēl guļ (He is still sleeping), Vai tu vēl esi darbā? (Are you still at work?)
4. Vēl: more, another, even.
- With a number, vēl adds more of something: vēl viena kafija (one more coffee), vēl divas dienas (two more days).
- On its own it means more: Vai gribi vēl? (Do you want more?)
- Before a comparative it means even: vēl labāk (even better), vēl lielāks (even bigger).
5. With a negated verb. Vēl with a negated verb means not yet: Es vēl nezinu (I do not know yet). For no longer, Latvian uses a different word, vairs: Es vairs nestrādāju (I no longer work). See vairs and vēl ne.
Tip: a short answer can be just one word. Vai tu jau esi gatavs? — Vēl ne. (Are you ready yet? — Not yet.)
Examples (6)
- Es jau zinu.
I already know.
- Viņš vēl guļ.
He is still sleeping.
- Vēl vienu kafiju, lūdzu!
One more coffee, please!
Vēl adds one more. Vienu kafiju is in the accusative because it is what you are asking for.
- Vai tu jau esi mājās?
Are you home yet?
In a question, jau matches English yet or already.
- Es jau trīs gadus dzīvoju Rīgā.
I have been living in Riga for three years now.
Jau with a length of time shows something that started in the past and is still going on.
- Rīt būs vēl labāk.
Tomorrow will be even better.
Before a comparative, vēl means even.
Common Mistakes
Using vēl for English yet in a question.
Vai tu vēl esi gatavs?Vai tu jau esi gatavs?To ask Are you ready yet?, use jau. Vai tu vēl esi gatavs? means Are you still ready?, which is a different question.
Translating one more word for word.
Lūdzu, vienu vairāk kafiju.Lūdzu, vēl vienu kafiju.Latvian says one more with vēl before the number: vēl viena kafija, vēl divas dienas.
Using vēl for no longer.
Es tur vēl nestrādāju.Es tur vairs nestrādāju.Vēl with a negated verb means not yet. To say I no longer work there, use vairs.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Jau and vēl go with past and present actions.
Related Patterns
- vairs / vēl neNo Longer and Not Yet
Vēl with a negated verb means not yet, while vairs means no longer.
Level 2 - ne- + VerbNegating a Verb with Ne-
How the verb is negated in vēl nezinu (I do not know yet).
Level 1 - Comparative -āksComparing: -āks
Vēl before a comparative means even: vēl labāk (even better).
Level 3 - How Long and How Often
Jau trīs gadus (for three years now) uses the accusative for a length of time.
Level 2 - tikaiOnly: Tikai
Another short word that limits or adds to the meaning of a sentence.
Level 2 - gan jauIt Will Be Fine: Gan Jau
Jau also appears in the reassuring phrase gan jau (surely, it will be fine).
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice jau / vēl in Bubblegum
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