अभी (abhii)
adverb
A core time-adverb meaning 'now, right now' or 'just now/a moment ago,' depending on context; also combines with other words to mean 'yet, still' in negative sentences.
Sense
1
:
right now, at this very moment
adverb
Synonyms: इस वक़्त (is vaqt), फ़िलहाल (filahaal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the word you'll hear shouted from a kitchen or a shop counter: अभी आया (abhii aayaa, 'coming right now') is the classic (if often not-so-immediate) response when someone's called for. Its flexibility -- covering 'now,' 'just now,' and 'in a moment' -- means Hindi speakers rely on tone and context rather than separate words the way English does.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for अभी (abhii) when they mean 'nowadays' -- for that ongoing, habitual sense आजकल (aajkal) is the natural choice, not अभी (abhii). 2) अभी (abhii) alone with a future-tense verb reads as 'right now, immediately,' e.g. अभी आता हूँ (abhii aataa hoon, 'I'm coming right now') -- learners sometimes add extra words to convey urgency that अभी (abhii) already carries.
Sample Sentences:
मैं अभी खाना बना रही हूँ।
I am cooking food right now.
(main abhii khaanaa banaa rahii hoon।)
Listen: F85
अगर वह अभी निकलता तो समय पर पहुँच जाता।
If he had left right now, he would have reached on time.
(agar vah abhii nikaltaa to samay par pahunch jaataa।)
Listen: F85
यह काम अभी पूरा किया जा रहा है।
This work is being completed right now.
(yah kaam abhii pooraa kiyaa jaa rahaa hai।)
Listen: F85
अभी के अभी घर से निकलो, वरना बस छूट जाएगी।
Leave the house this very moment, or you'll miss the bus.
(abhii ke abhii ghar se niklo, varnaa bas chhoot jaaegii।)
Listen: M85
प्रधानमंत्री अभी राष्ट्र को संबोधित करेंगे।
The prime minister will address the nation right now.
(pradhaanmantrii abhii raashtr ko sambodhit karenge।)
Listen: M85
अभी तो मैं ठीक हूँ, पर पता नहीं कल क्या होगा।
Right now I'm fine, but who knows what will happen tomorrow.
(abhii to main thiik hoon, par pataa nahiin kal kyaa hogaa।)
Listen: F85
अभी के लिए इतना ही काफी है।
For right now, this much is enough.
(abhii ke lie itnaa hii kaaphii hai।)
Listen: M85
Sense
2
:
just now, a moment ago
adverb Used with the past tense to mark an action completed only moments before speaking, e.g. वह अभी गया (vah abhii gayaa, 'he just left').
Synonyms: थोड़ी देर पहले (thodii der pahle)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: The same word that means 'right now' also means 'just now' -- the tense of the verb is what tells you which side of the present moment अभी (abhii) is pointing to.
Sample Sentences:
अभी-अभी उसका फोन आया था।
His call had just come a moment ago.
(abhii-abhii uskaa phon aayaa thaa।)
Listen: F85
अभी तो वह यहीं बैठी थी, फिर कहाँ चली गई?
She was sitting right here just now -- where did she go?
(abhii to vah yahiin baithii thii, phir kahaan chalii gaii?)
Listen: F85
अभी जो खबर मिली, उससे सब हैरान रह गए।
Everyone was stunned by the news that just came in.
(abhii jo khabar milii, usse sab hairaan rah gae।)
Listen: F85
अभी बताया था, फिर से भूल गए क्या?
I just told you a moment ago -- did you forget already?
(abhii bataayaa thaa, phir se bhool gae kyaa?)
Listen: F85
साहब, अभी ही रिपोर्ट प्रस्तुत की गई है।
Sir, the report has just been submitted.
(saahab, abhii hii riport prastut kii gaii hai।)
Listen: M85
अभी जो हुआ, वह मुझे समझ नहीं आया।
I didn't understand what just happened.
(abhii jo huaa, vah mujhe samajh nahiin aayaa।)
Listen: F85
काश मैं अभी हुई बात पर ध्यान देता, तो यह गलती न होती।
If only I had paid attention to what had just happened, this mistake wouldn't have occurred.
(kaash main abhii huii baat par dhyaan detaa, to yah galtii n hotii।)
Listen: M85
अभी-अभी जो शोर हुआ, वह किस बात का था?
That noise just now -- what was that about?
(abhii-abhii jo shor huaa, vah kis baat kaa thaa?)
Listen: F85
Sense
3
:
yet, still (in negative constructions)
adverb Pairs with नहीं (nahiin) as अभी नहीं (abhii nahiin, 'not yet') to mean an expected action has not happened up to now.
Synonyms: अब तक (ab tak)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: अभी नहीं (abhii nahiin) is a soft, very common way to defer something -- a parent telling a child अभी नहीं, बाद में (abhii nahiin, baad men, 'not now, later') is a familiar household sound.
Common Mistakes: 1) अभी नहीं (abhii nahiin) means 'not yet' or 'not right now' depending on context -- learners sometimes confuse this with a flat refusal, when it usually just means 'later, not now.'
Sample Sentences:
खाना अभी तक नहीं बना है।
The food hasn't been made yet.
(khaanaa abhii tak nahiin banaa hai।)
Listen: M85
मुझे अभी तक उसका जवाब नहीं मिला है।
I still haven't gotten his reply.
(mujhe abhii tak uskaa javaab nahiin milaa hai।)
Listen: F85
अभी तक तो सब ठीक चल रहा है।
So far, everything is still going fine.
(abhii tak to sab thiik chal rahaa hai।)
Listen: F85
अभी तक बारिश नहीं रुकी।
The rain still hasn't stopped.
(abhii tak baarish nahiin rukii।)
Listen: M85
अगर अभी तक चिट्ठी नहीं पहुँची होती, तो हमें फोन करना चाहिए था।
If the letter still hadn't arrived, we should have called.
(agar abhii tak chitthii nahiin pahunchii hotii, to hamen phon karnaa chaahie thaa।)
Listen: M85
कृपया प्रतीक्षा करें, रिपोर्ट अभी तक तैयार नहीं हुई है।
Please wait, the report has not been prepared yet.
(kripyaa pratiikshaa karen, riport abhii tak taiyaar nahiin huii hai।)
Listen: F85
बच्चे अभी सोए नहीं हैं, ज़रा धीरे बोलो।
The kids aren't asleep yet, speak a little softer.
(bachche abhii soe nahiin hain, zaraa dhiire bolo।)
Listen: F85
मैंने अभी तक उससे बात नहीं की, शायद कल करूँ।
I still haven't talked to him, maybe I'll do it tomorrow.
(mainne abhii tak usse baat nahiin kii, shaayad kal karoon।)
Listen: M85