Meaning of jau | Babel Free

Definitions

1. used to indicate that an action or event has started, happened before the time of speaking; already
2. used to reinforce the meaning of a word, phrase or sentence; really, indeed
3. used to indicate that an action or event is happening before its due time, earlier than expected or planned; already
4. used to reinforce what is affirmed in a sentence, to give it more credibility, more generality
   usually

Equivalents

Examples

“saule jau aust”

the sun is already up

“viņš jau atnāca”

he has already arrived

“es šo grāmatu jau esmu lasījis”

I have already read this book

“viņi jau bija izbraukuši no pilsētas, kad tēvocis atkal ierunājās”

they had already left the city when (their) uncle spoke again

“plāns jānodod jau šodien”

the plan must be carried out already today

“jau rīt viņš aizceļos”

he will set off tomorrow already

“jau pēc stundas”

already in an hour (earlier than expected)

“žēl jau bija, ka tā iznāca”

it is really a pity that it came out like that

“tas jau tāpat saprotams”

that is really self-evident

“tā jau ir”

it is indeed so

“tā jau viņš neteica”

that he didn't say

“labi jau tas nebija”

good that was not

“tā jau nu ir”

that is true... (said when reluctantly agreeing)

“viņš bija naivs, kā jau bērns”

he was naive, like a child

“bija jautri, kā jau viesībās”

it was fun, like in a party

“gandrīz katru dienu līst, kā jau rudenī”

almost every day it rains, as if it were autumn

CEFR level