Spanish word

ahorita

Pronunciation

IPA/aoˈɾita/

Meaning

  • adverbin a bit

Example

Espérame ahorita, voy a terminar en diez minutos.

Wait for me in a bit, I'm going to finish in ten minutes.

Illustration for ahorita (in a bit)

More examples

Regreso ahorita, no te preocupes.

I'll be back in a bit, don't worry.

Core concept

A near-future moment.

Common phrases

  • ahorita vuelvo

    back in a bit

  • regreso ahorita

    be back in a bit

Similar words

enseguida: A prompt near-future moment that will happen almost immediately, used to express quickness.
ahora mismo: The precise present instant, happening right this second with no delay.
dentro de un rato: A little time later, occurring after a brief interval rather than immediately.
luego: Later on, at a subsequent time without a fixed schedule.

Definition in Spanish

Suele señalar que algo sucederá justo ahora o en muy poco tiempo, y que en contextos distintos puede interpretarse como inmediato o como dentro de un rato.

Word origin

Formed by adding the diminutive -ita to ahora, retaining the root sense of 'now' while making the timing less exact and more colloquial.

Usage tips

  • Ahorita is normally too vague for formal scheduling, 'ahora mismo' indicates strict immediacy and specifying an exact time removes ambiguity.

Other meanings

  • right nowadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word