This is the 73rd most frequent Catalan word.
ara
"Now."
In this sentence, "ara" is used to specify the present time, equivalent to "now" in English.
Ara és el moment de començar.
Now is the time to start.
In this expression, "ara" indicates urgency or an immediate opportunity, meaning "now" in a decisive sense.
És ara o mai.
It's now or never.
Here, "ara mateix" emphasizes the immediacy of the present moment, translating to "right now" in English.