adverbconjunctionnoun

maintenant

now

Moment présent, temps où l’on parle ou agit, sans attendre le futur.

The French word "maintenant" translates to "now" in English. It refers to the present moment and indicates something that is happening currently or at this very time.

Differences with Synonyms:

À présent: This phrase also means "now" and can be used interchangeably with "maintenant." However, "à présent" is generally considered slightly more formal or literary.
Désormais: This word means "from now on" or "henceforth." It indicates a change or a situation that will continue into the future, rather than just referring to the immediate present.
Heure actuelle: This phrase translates to "current hour." While it refers to the present moment, it specifically denotes the time of day and is not commonly used in daily conversation compared to "maintenant."

In summary, "maintenant" is a straightforward and commonly used term for expressing the idea of "now," while its synonyms may carry different connotations or specific contextual uses.