Ahora sí

The literal meaning of ahora sí is "now yes." But the actual meaning of this expression depends a lot on its context. Let's analyze some examples so you can learn more about how ahora sí is used.

In most cases, ahora sí can be translated as "now" or "this time:"

Yo creo que ahora sí vale los dos mil pesos.

I think that this time it is worth the two thousand pesos.

Caption 19, El Ausente - Acto 2
Play Caption

Notice how the translation in the following examples adds the verb "to do." The word sí (yes) is meant to add a similar emphasis in the Spanish expression:

Ah claro, ahora sí lo entiendo hija, ¡qué torpe soy!

Oh, of course, now I do understand it, girl. How clumsy I am!

Caption 57, 75 minutos - Del campo a la mesa
Play Caption

Chicas, ahora sí tenemos que llamar a los chamanes.

Girls, this time we do have to call the shamans.

Caption 9, NPS No puede ser - 1 - El concurso
Play Caption

Sometimes "finally" is a better translation:

Bueno. Ahora sí. La historia empieza aquí en la iglesia.

OK. Finally. The story begins here at the church.

Captions 31-32, Salvando el planeta Palabra - Llegada
Play Caption

Ahora sí can be used as an interjection, similarly to the English phrase "all right, then." In this example, Don Albertote uses it to emphasize that he is serious about his threat:

¡La vara eléctrica, ahora sí! -¡Ay, no!

The electric rod, all right, then! -Oh, no!

Caption 17, Kikirikí - Animales
Play Caption

A common way to threaten someone in Spanish is:
Ahora sí, vas a ver.
All right then, you'll see.

You will also find the phrase ahora sí que. It also means "now" or "this time," and it's commonly used to emphatically express a confirmation:

No pues, ahora sí que nomás se burla de la gente como nosotros.

No, well, this time he's only making fun of people like us.

Caption 29, ¡Tierra, Sí! - Atenco
Play Caption

As a final cultural note: in Mexico City, chilangos use the phrase ahora sí (que) a lot, as a rather untranslatable pet expression:

Para ahora sí que no agarren la costumbre.

For them not to get the habit [of having us work all day].

Caption 6, La Banda Chilanguense - El habla de México
Play Caption

Thanks for reading. To see more lessons please click here.