Apenas means just right now in spanish?

[sano23]

does apenas mean just right now in spanish? for example apenas llegaron means they just got here
apenas entreamos we just came in which means entered

[wrholt]

Originally Posted by sano23

does apenas mean just right now in spanish? for example apenas llegaron means they just got here
apenas entreamos we just came in which means entered

Not quite, at least not with these expressions by themselves.

A better translatio of "they just got here" is "acaban de llegar".

The common meanings of "apenas" include:

1. hardly, barely

"Apenas llegaron" = "they barely arrived" (implying that they almost could not arrive".
"Apenas pude verlo" = "I could hardly see it"
"hace apenas media hora" = "only a half-hour ago"
"sin apenas trámites" = with a minimum of formalities

2. no sooner than, barely

"Apenas había llegado cuando la llamó" = "no sooner had he/she arrived than he/she called her".

3. (regionally in parts of Latin America) not until

"apenas el martes lo podré hacer" = "I won't be able to do it until Tuesday"

4. (regionally) as soon as

"Apenas termines, me avisas" = "let me know as soon as you finish"

[sano23]

But I was taught to use apenas llegaron to mean they just got here

so apenas llegaron to mean they just got here is incorrect?

[aleCcowaN]

they just got here ---> acaban de llegar (recién llegaron)

apenas llegaron, empezaron a romper todo --> they were trashing the place just one minute after they arrived.

[Elaina]

Yes. It is a common way in MexSp to say......
-apenas llegaron - they just got here
-apenas se fueron - they just left

I am not saying it is correct spanish grammar....I'm just saying it is commonly used.

[aleCcowaN]

You're right, I have forgotten that. Uses like Mexican ex-post "apenas llegaron", Spanish ex-ante "están para salir" or Argentine static "arriba de la mesa" should be avoided in a context of learning Spanish.

[Elaina]

Originally Posted by sano23

does apenas mean just right now in spanish? for example apenas llegaron means they just got here
apenas entreamos we just came in which means entered

No it doesn't........only when used in the above context or other similar ones.

But I want to stress that it may not be correct grammar but it is used...