"Now Now" is a phrase commonly used in South African English, originating from the Afrikaans term "nou nou". It conveys the sense of something happening in the near future, or happening 'shortly'; but not exactly requiring immediate action or occurrence. An approximate time frame cannot be definitively stated, and the event could occur in the next few minutes to the next couple of hours. It's generally understood as sooner than 'just now', another South African term used to express a slightly more distant future event. The phrase reveals a somewhat relaxed perspective towards time and urgency in the South African culture.
Example
1. "I will finish my work Now Now, just give me a few more minutes."
2. "I'll be there Now Now; I'm just putting on my shoes."
3. "Your dinner will be ready Now Now; the rice just needs a few more minutes to cook."
4. "We will start the meeting Now Now, we're just waiting for the manager to arrive."
5. "The football match is about to start Now Now; you better hurry if you don't want to miss the kickoff."
Interesting fact
In South Africa, the term "Now Now" is commonly used to refer to something that will happen shortly or in the immediate future. Interestingly, this phrase can cause quite a bit of confusion for foreigners, particularly those from English-speaking countries where "now" usually means this instant. However, in South African English, "now now" could mean anything from a few minutes to a couple of hours. This intriguing phrase reflects the relaxed and laid-back attitude towards time that is often associated with South African culture!