ya
/ˈʝa/ · A1 · conj
now, right now, anymore, no longer
From Latin iam = now, already; same root as French déjà
Latin iam (now, already) became Spanish ya. Core sense is now: ya voy = coming right now, ya no = no longer. Doubled as ya... ya... it pairs two options or steps: now this, now that, hence whether... or and first... then.