If you look up now in a Russian dictionary, you’ll find both сейчас and теперь. Do they mean the same thing? Not exactly… they are far from interchangeable.
| The adverb сейчас means now, in the sense of at this present moment. |
| Сейчас я работаю в начальной школе помощником. Now I work in an elementary school as an aide. |
| The adverb теперь means now, in the sense of and now, but now, as opposed to before. There is greater emphasis in it. |
| Теперь моя жизнь изменилась. Я стал взрослым, и мне надо быть ответственным. Now [as opposed to before] my life has changed. I’ve become an adult, and I need to be responsible. |
Another example for you to observe the difference:
| –Я решил изменить свою жизнь. -I’ve decided to change my life. –Интересно. А что ты будешь делать теперь? -Interesting. What will you be doing now? [as opposed to before] |
Because of this emphasis, this adverb works great during discussions when you want to move on to something else, say, a different topic.
| Теперь давайте обсудим следующую тему. Now let’s discuss the next topic. |
And in expressing now that:
| Теперь, когда Василий стал взрослым, он может работать. Now that Vasiliy has become an adult, he can work. |
Observe these sentences:
| Раньше тебе не нравился джаз, а сейчас нравится. Before you didn’t like jazz, but now you do. |
| Раньше тебе не нравился джаз, а теперь нравится. Before you didn’t like jazz, but now you do. |
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| Last Edit: 02/15/2026. |
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