jetzt

Jetzt is a German adverb meaning "now" or "at the present moment." It denotes the present time or immediacy and is widely used in everyday speech and writing.

Grammatically, jetzt is invariable and does not form inflections. It can appear sentence-initially, in the middle of a sentence, or in questions: "Jetzt geht es los." "Was machst du jetzt?" "Ich bleibe jetzt hier." In combination with other particles it forms expressions such as "jetzt erst" (only now, after a delay) or "jetzt aber" (but now) to emphasize a change of state.

Usage notes and distinctions: "jetzt" contrasts with past or future references and with synonyms such as "nun" or "gerade." "Nun" tends toward a more formal or literary tone, while "gerade" emphasizes the present moment or current situation rather than a specific point in time. In colloquial speech, "jetzt" remains extremely common and versatile.

Etymology: The word derives from older Germanic forms for the present moment; the modern spelling and usage stabilized through the history of High German, with attestations dating back to medieval and early modern periods. Today it is a core element of standard German vocabulary across dialects and varieties.

Examples of usage include: "Jetzt beginnt der Film." "Kannst du mir jetzt helfen?" "Es ist jetzt Zeit für eine Pause."