Ya vs. todavía vs. aún
While the Spanish words ya, todavía, and aún can sometimes seem similar, they describe different relationships to time. Ya indicates a change or completion, whereas todavía and aún express continuity or that something has not yet happened.
Ya
A2Ya indicates that an action has been completed or a new state has begun. It's often translated as already or now. In negative sentences, ya no signifies that an action or state has stopped, meaning not anymore or no longer.
He comido ya, gracias.
(I have eaten already, thank you.)
Mi hijo ya camina solo.
(My son walks by himself now.)
¿Ya terminaste el informe?
(Did you finish the report yet?)
Ya no trabajo en esa oficina.
(I don't work in that office anymore.)
Por favor, ya no me llames.
(Please, don't call me anymore.)
Ya entiendo la lección.
(I understand the lesson now.)
Todavía
A2Todavía indicates that an action or state is still ongoing and has not finished. It expresses continuity from the past into the present. It is typically translated as still. In negative sentences, todavía no means not yet.
Todavía estoy en la oficina.
(I am still at the office.)
Mi abuela todavía vive en su casa de la infancia.
(My grandmother still lives in her childhood home.)
Todavía no he visto esa película.
(I have not seen that movie yet.)
¿Todavía tienes el coche azul?
(Do you still have the blue car?)
El paquete todavía no ha llegado.
(The package has not arrived yet.)
Aún
B1Aún is very similar to todavía and is often used interchangeably to mean still or not yet. It can sometimes carry a more emphatic or formal tone. Aún is also frequently used with comparatives (more, less, better, worse) to mean even.
Él aún está durmiendo.
(He is still sleeping.)
Aún no sé la respuesta.
(I don't know the answer yet.)
Aún tengo la carta que me escribiste.
(I still have the letter you wrote me.)
El problema es aún más complicado de lo que pensábamos.
(The problem is even more complicated than we thought.)
Llegó tarde, pero aún peor, olvidó los documentos.
(He arrived late, but even worse, he forgot the documents.)
Summary
The main difference is between ya and the other two. Use ya for completed actions (already) or states that have changed (now, no longer). Use todavía or aún for ongoing actions or states (still, not yet). Todavía and aún are mostly interchangeable, but aún can also mean even when used to add emphasis to a comparison.