Ahora mismo vs enseguida (y un falso amigo)

In Spain, for “right now” people often use ahora mismo and enseguida. You’ll hear them a lot in bars, shops, and at work. Tip: say ahora mismo if you’re doing it immediately; enseguida if you’ll take a short moment.

Quick nuance: ahora mismo = at this very instant; enseguida = in a very short time. Roughly: “right now, this second” vs “in a moment, just a minute.”

With pets: “Te saco a pasear enseguida, perrete” (“I’ll take you for a walk in a moment, doggy”). In Spain affectionate diminutives for animals (perrete) are common, and veterinario is often shortened to vete.

Poquito a poco = gradually, little by little. E.g.: “El español se aprende poquito a poco” (“Spanish is learned bit by bit, gradually”).

Peninsular Spanish tip: better use ahora mismo/enseguida. “Ya mismo” is not very common in Spain; it’s more frequent in other countries. If you’re unsure, avoid “ya mismo” in Spain.

Key phrases: —¿Puedes venir? —Ahora mismo. —Voy enseguida, espera un segundo. —Vamos mejorando poquito a poco.