“Confusing”: Afrikaner Man Explains the Difference of “Now, Now Now and Just Now” to American Wife
- An American woman married to a South African Afrikaner man shared a video asking for help understanding the confusing South African phrases "now," "now now," and "just now"
- Her husband, Ray, explained how these common South African expressions have completely different meanings from what Americans would expect from the words
- South Africans flooded the comments with their own explanations and jokes about the timing differences
Source: Facebook
An American woman married to a South African has left viewers in stitches after asking for help understanding one of Mzansi's most confusing language quirks.
Facebook user @hattrickhannah, who lives in Texas with her Afrikaner husband Ray, shared a video on 8 September 2025 that has sparked a huge discussion about South African English.
The couple, sitting on their front porch, decided to tackle the age-old confusion surrounding three simple words that mean very different things in South Africa compared to America. Hannah introduced the video by explaining she needed Ray to clear up something that had been puzzling her since they started dating.
Ray took on the challenge of explaining the difference between "now," "now now," and "just now" - three phrases that sound immediate to American ears but have very different meanings in South Africa. He started by explaining that "now" actually means right away, making it the most urgent of the three options.
The real confusion began when he explained that "now now" actually means later, not immediately, as the words suggest. Hannah jumped in to express her bewilderment, pointing out how misleading the phrase sounds to someone who isn't South African.
The couple then tackled "just now," which Ray explained could mean anything from 10 minutes to an hour, and definitely doesn't mean right away, despite how it sounds. Hannah shared how this particular phrase had confused her early in their relationship when Ray would promise to show her something "just now" and she'd sit waiting for it to happen immediately.
Source: Facebook
Viewers react to the play on words
South Africans rushed to help the American couple understand their unique language patterns, with many offering their own interpretations and experiences.
@andrewvanoordt broke it down:
"Now: as soon as I've finished what I'm doing right now. Now-now: it'll happen within an indeterminate amount of time. Just-now: An indeterminate amount of time ranging between right now and never."
@larabarbosa shared:
"In my view, just now is most often said in irritation- like a snap back."
@christozeelie joked:
"If the Springboks lose - we braai NOW. If the Springboks draw - we braai Just NOW. If the Springboks win - we braai NOW NOW"
@johnbarnes laughed:
"LOL, well, we left SA 31 years ago in January next year. As an English-speaking person from SA, I never used those terms. Although I know what they are. My family used to laugh about it. I still do. LOL!"
@nikomtimkulu explained:
"Just now also means the recent past. He drove past the house just now."
South African English variations
According to Stellenbosch Papers in Linguistics, South African English is different from the English spoken in other parts of the world. A dialect is simply a way of speaking a language that has its own pronunciation, grammar, and words, often linked to a region or community. This means everyone speaks a dialect, even people who use standard English.
What makes South African English special is that it has its own sayings, timing expressions, and word choices that can confuse people from other countries. These differences aren’t random — they carry meaning and show the mix of cultures in South Africa. Over time, Afrikaans and English have influenced each other, creating a unique way of speaking that reflects the country’s history.
View the Facebook reel below:
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Source: Briefly News
