अब (ab)

adverb A core time adverb meaning 'now' -- covers the literal present moment and the very common 'from now on' / transitional sense that shows up constantly in spoken Hindi.

Sense 1 : now, at this moment

adverb

Synonyms: इस वक़्त (is vaqt, this moment), फ़िलहाल (filahaal, for now)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: You'll hear अब क्या करें (ab kyaa karen, 'what to do now') and अब बस (ab bas, 'enough now') constantly in daily complaints and resignation -- अब (ab) often carries a faint sigh of 'well, given how things stand now...' rather than being a neutral time-stamp.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for अभी (abhii) when अब (ab) is meant: अभी (abhii) leans toward 'right this second/just now' with urgency or immediacy, while अब (ab) marks a broader shift in time -- 'now' as opposed to 'before.' 2) अब (ab) is frequently paired with तो (to) for emphasis -- अब तो (ab to, 'well, now...') -- which can trip up learners expecting a literal translation of 'तो.'

Sample Sentences:

अब मुझे नींद आ रही है। I'm feeling sleepy now.

(ab mujhe niind aa rahii hai।)

अब क्या करें? What to do now?

(ab kyaa karen?)

अब बस, बहुत हो गया। Enough now, that's more than enough.

(ab bas, bahut ho gayaa।)

अब मैं यह काम कर रहा हूँ। I am doing this work right now.

(ab main yah kaam kar rahaa hoon।)

अब तो बारिश रुक ही गई। Well, the rain has finally stopped now.

(ab to baarish ruk hii gaii।)

अगर अब मैं जाता, तो शायद देर न होती। If I were going now, maybe I wouldn't be late.

(agar ab main jaataa, to shaayad der n hotii।)

अब चलो, वरना बस छूट जाएगी। Come on now, or we'll miss the bus.

(ab chalo, varnaa bas chhoot jaaegii।)

अभी तो अब का समय बड़ा नाज़ुक है, महोदय। The present moment is a very delicate one, sir.

(abhii to ab kaa samay badaa naazuk hai, mahoday।)

अब जो होना है, वह हो जाए। Now let whatever is meant to happen, happen.

(ab jo honaa hai, vah ho jaae।)

अब यह फ़ाइल मुझसे पढ़ी जा रही है। This file is being read by me right now.

(ab yah faail mujhse padhii jaa rahii hai।)

अब तो सब कुछ ठीक लग रहा है। Well, everything seems fine now.

(ab to sab kuchh thiik lag rahaa hai।)

Sense 2 : from now on, henceforth (marking a change of state)

adverb Often implicitly contrasts with a पहले (pahle, 'before') that may not even be stated -- अब मैं नहीं जाता (ab main nahiin jaataa, 'now I don't go [anymore]') implies a past habit that has changed.

Synonyms: इसके बाद (iske baad, after this), आगे से (aage se, from now on)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: This is the अब (ab) of personal turning points -- अब सब ठीक है (ab sab thiik hai, 'now everything's fine') after a rough patch, or a parent saying अब तुम बड़े हो गए हो (ab tum bade ho gae ho, 'now you've grown up') -- it frames the present as a break from an implied past.

Sample Sentences:

पहले मेरी उससे बात नहीं होती थी, पर अब हम अच्छे दोस्त हैं। Earlier I didn't talk to him, but now we're good friends.

(pahle merii usse baat nahiin hotii thii, par ab ham achchhe dost hain।)

अब सब ठीक है, तुम चिंता मत करो। Everything's fine now, don't you worry.

(ab sab thiik hai, tum chintaa mat karo।)

माँ ने कहा, "अब तुम बड़े हो गए हो, अपनी ज़िम्मेदारियाँ खुद उठाओ।" Mother said, "You've grown up now, take care of your own responsibilities."

(maan ne kahaa, "ab tum bade ho gae ho, apnii zimmedaariyaan khud uthaao।")

उस हादसे के बाद से उसकी ज़िंदगी अब पहले जैसी नहीं रही। Since that accident, his life hasn't been the same since.

(us haadse ke baad se uskii zindgii ab pahle jaisii nahiin rahii।)

अगर वह तब मेहनत करता तो अब उसकी हालत इतनी बुरी न होती। If he had worked hard back then, his situation now wouldn't be this bad.

(agar vah tab mehnat kartaa to ab uskii haalat itnii burii n hotii।)

काश अब कुछ बदल जाए और पुराने दिन लौट आएँ। I wish something would change now and the old days would return.

(kaash ab kuchh badal jaae aur puraane din laut aaen।)

जब से उसने नौकरी छोड़ी है, अब वह पूरी तरह बदल गया है। Ever since he quit his job, he's become a completely different person now.

(jab se usne naukrii chhodii hai, ab vah poorii tarah badal gayaa hai।)

देश अब आज़ाद हो चुका है, अब हमें अपनी ज़िम्मेदारी समझनी होगी। The nation is now free at last, and now we must understand our responsibility.

(desh ab aazaad ho chukaa hai, ab hamen apnii zimmedaarii samajhnii hogii।)

अब जो होना था वह हो गया, अब पीछे मुड़कर देखने से कोई फ़ायदा नहीं। What had to happen has happened now, and now there's no use looking back.

(ab jo honaa thaa vah ho gayaa, ab piichhe mudkar dekhne se koii faaydaa nahiin।)

बरसों की तपस्या के बाद अब वह ऋषि परम ज्ञान को प्राप्त कर चुका था। After years of penance, the sage had now finally attained supreme knowledge.

(barson kii tapasyaa ke baad ab vah rishi param gyaan ko praapt kar chukaa thaa।)

पहले वह हर बात पर रोता था, पर अब वह हर मुश्किल का सामना डटकर करता है। He used to cry over everything before, but now he faces every difficulty head-on.

(pahle vah har baat par rotaa thaa, par ab vah har mushkil kaa saamnaa datkar kartaa hai।)