What it means
A specifically South African way of saying soon but not right this second, somewhere between now and just now, which itself could mean anything from five minutes to next week. The double now actually means sooner than just now but later than actual now. If this sounds confusing, welcome to South African time management.
Usage examples
"I will fix the gate now now, he said on Saturday morning. By Wednesday evening the gate was still broken and he was watching rugby with a beer in hand."
"I'll bring the bill now now, said the waiter, and we finished two more coffees before it arrived."
"Tell the kids now now means get in the car, not in twenty minutes when the game's over."
"I'm coming now now, bru, just need to find my keys and put shoes on."
"Ja no stress, we'll load the car now now and head out before it gets dark."
Where it comes from
It comes straight from Afrikaans nou-nou, literally doubled for emphasis. In South African English it settled into a very local time-code where now now means soon, but not this exact second. It's part of a whole South African timeline that also includes just now, which can drift even further into later-land.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
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